A WEEKEND of free, fun activities is being held in Leeds to mark the fifth birthday of its child friendly initiative.

The whole city is invited to the big birthday bonanza which will include a climbing wall, sports activities, go-karts, a flashmob dance performance and arts and crafts activities.

The Queen helped launch Child Friendly Leeds during a visit to the city five years ago. The anniversary of that occasion will be celebrated with a variety of free activities for children and families on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23.

Millennium Square will host a teddy bear’s picnic on Sunday, July 23, with a grassed area and benches plus giant inflatables. Child Friendly Leeds will take over the 'big screen' and show CBeebies and CBBC content. CBBC is also joining in the celebration providing some activities. Also taking part will be Breeze, Active Sports, and city centre ambassadors.

Child Friendly Leeds ambassadors based in the city centre will be running activities in their own venues including, Merrion Centre, St John’s Centre, The Light, Leeds Central Library, Colby’s Coffee, Leeds City Museum, Kirkgate Market, Arts at Trinity, John Lewis, Victoria Gate, The Corn Exchange, The Tetley, The Works and Hyde Park Picture House supported by Cinema for All.

The council announced its aim to become the best place in the UK for children and young people to grow up in July 2012. Since then more than 700 businesses, organisations and individuals have pledged to support the campaign.

Councillor Lisa Mulherin, executive board member for children and families said:

"Child friendly Leeds is a far reaching concept which is about putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do, giving them a voice and the opportunity to be involved in decisions about their city. We have made so much progress in the past five years but we understand that there is still long way to go to achieve our aim to make Leeds the best city to grow up in."