PEOPLE in Beeston took to the streets to celebrate the start of tram works in Chilwell Road.
The character of the busy shopping road will change when trams start using it after work on the next phase of the city's tram network.
Construction work has just started – so what better time to celebrate what the street has before the road is ripped up.
Hundreds turned up to a street party on Saturday – one last big bash in Chilwell Road before it changes forever.
Children enjoyed balloon modelling, Punch and Judy and a circus workshop and there was a coconut shy, hook-a-duck and tin can alley.
There was also music for the youngsters from local band Johnny and the Raindrops.
For adults, there was food and drink, as well as music on the main stage, followed by live entertainment in bars in the town centre in the evening.
And 1,000 Easter eggs were given away.
Martin Fallon, 38, who was there with his family, said: "I've lived in Beeston all of my life. It's certainly changing, which is a shame to see. It's great to come here and remember how this street has been a big part of life around here."
John Roland, 46, said: "The tram is going to be good for Beeston. But it's important we have events to get everyone together like this and celebrate what we have here."
Sarah Stewart, 35, said: "I don't want it to change but it's happening. I wanted to come here and have a good day."
Gill Thomas, 55, said: "I love events like this. Everyone is happy, though not so much with the actual idea of the tram works."
For Becky Cullen, Beeston holds many good memories and she wants to celebrate that through poetry. She was asking people passing her stall to write down what Beeston meant to them.
She will then collate the ideas and write a poem, to be published in the Beestonian free paper.
She said: "So many people have so many memories. That's what I want to be able to capture. That's why I'm here. One person has written about how the Sea Scouts gathered here. That's just the kind of thing I want, something which relates to the area."
The event was organised by Matt Goold, 39, of Meadow Lane, who wanted to showcase the shops in the road – which will stay open during the work.
Work on the new line to Chilwell, which has divided opinion in the town, will see Chilwell Road closed to through traffic for a year in total – six months each for two different sections. But it will remain open for pedestrians and escorted deliveries to businesses.
