Grease lightning as fans gather for Shrewsbury films event

But as crowds gathered at Shrewsbury's Quarry park for an open-air screening of the 1978 film, the heavens opened as the area was battered by a spectacular thunder and lightning storm.

Several of the estimated 1,000 people who had bought tickets for the film stayed away – but hundreds did watch John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John fall in love on the giant screen as Danny and Sandy.

The film was shown as part of the town's first ever Pictures in the Park event on Saturday.

Earlier, children had seen their heroes Elsa and Anna come to life on the during a showing of Frozen, while families also turned out in droves to watch the 2014 film Paddington during the afternoon.

Pictures in the Park was the idea of Jessie Hinds, who works for local solicitors firm Hatchers.

"I decided to do it because I went to something similar in London about three years ago and thought it was a brilliant concept," she said.

"There's no big concert in Shrewsbury this year and I thought it would be something there would be demand for, alongside local events like the Flower Show and the Food Festival.

"It's been a lot more work than I expected, but everyone's so keen for new things in Shrewsbury and I've had so much good feedback.

"We had more than 200 people for the first showing, Frozen. Frozen is just the most amazingly popular thing, and Paddington, again, I chose for its popularity, and Grease is a classic.

"Get Your Wigle On theatre company was there, welcoming people in, dressed in costumes from Grease, so the whole thing was a real experience for people. They were arriving and it was like walking into Rydell High, the school from Grease."

Miss Hinds said it was such a success she is now thinking about repeating the event, and possibly taking it on tour around the county.

"I'm hoping that we can do it as an annual event, and even take it to different venues around the country," she said. "There's potential for expansion."

The event was staged on the banking below The Dingle, an area which has the capacity for 5,000 viewers, with the screen provided by ADITV.

Audience members paid £12 per adult for tickets, with proceeds from the screenings going towards counselling charity Relate.

Ryan Jervis, from Relate, said: "It's wonderful. When Jess came along and joined our fundraising committee that was a big benefit and then when she said she was putting on Pictures in the Park we thought 'wow'.

"We were delighted and it's gone wonderfully and been good advertising for us as a charity as well."

Families enjoyed a morning out in the park to watch Frozen, with most of the children dressing up as their favourite characters from the film. A life size Olaf the snowman greeted the children as they came in, posing for pictures and get plenty of warm hugs from the pint-sized Anna and Elsas.

James and Leanne Booth, from Berwick Grange, Shrewsbury, brought their three children along as a special treat for eldest daughter Millie, who will be turning seven on Wednesday.

Mr Booth said: "We've got a lot of Frozen fans in the family. The youngest can't even talk yet but he knows all the songs. It's worked out really well for Millie's birthday and it's a fun day out for all the kids."

Jeanne Noble brought granddaughter Isabelle Ellis, three, for a morning treat. Isabelle, who has just celebrated her birthday, was proudly wearing the Elsa hair braid and rosette she got for her birthday, as well as her Frozen wellies and t-shirt.

Mrs Noble, from London Road, Shrewsbury, said: "She's a big fan. She only got into it recently but she just loves it. She really enjoys it and she knows all the songs and the story.

"I debated about bringing her because the weather forecast wasn't so good, but it turned out okay and she's really excited."

The furthest travelled audience members were three-year-old twins Amelie and Elise Crane, who came to Shrewsbury from Market Harborough in Leicestershire to visit their nanny Chris Crane, from Longden Coleham.

"They moved six months ago so I don't see them very often any more," Ms Crane said. "When I saw this I thought what a perfect thing to do. They're absolutely mad about Frozen.

"Their brother Nye, who's eight, decided to go geocaching instead but I think he'll be sorry he missed it."

The screenings also attracted plenty of teenagers, with sisters Sophie and Lucie Canning, 14 and 12, from Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, setting up their blanket early in the day to enjoy a full day of films.

Lucie said: "She really likes Frozen and I don't mind it. It should be a fun day out."

Sophie, who admitted she may have been singing along with Frozen, added: "Our mum's coming down later to bring us a picnic. We're really looking forward to the whole day."

Grease was one of two films which drew more than 1,500 people to Telford's International Centre for a drive-in cinema event that took place in May last year.

The screening was supported by a number of local businesses, inclusing Miss Hinds' employers, Hatchers, and Monks Estate Agents, Shrewsbury Homes, Jigsaw Marquees, Dyke Yaxley Chartered Accountants, Ella Cru, OGL Computer, and Yarrington.