CROWDS flocked to Walton Hall and Gardens on Sunday as Disability Awareness Day turned 25.

First held in 1992, Disability Awareness Day has gone on to raise nearly £1m for charity and attracted more than 550,000 visitors.

The 25th incarnation brought more than 250 exhibitors to the site, including six-time Guinness World Record-holder and the fastest blind man on the planet on land and water Mike Newman.

Attendees were entertained by acts including autistic vocalist Carly Ryan, the Katsumba Samba Band, inclusive drama troupe Ella Performance Group.

A number of hands-on activities were also on offer to get stuck into, including wheelchair basketball, scuba diving and karate.

Countries including India, Egypt, Sweden, Gibraltar, Cameroon, Denmark and Uganda have adopted their own Disability Awareness Day inspired by the Warrington version, which has attracted visitors from around the globe.

Special guests over the years have included the Countess of Wessex and several ministers for disabled people while the event received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2006.

Get a copy of Thursday's Warrington Guardian for all the pictures from Disability Awareness Day 2016 plus Warrington Disability Partnership cofounder and chief executive Dave Thompson's thoughts on the day.

Pictures by Mike Boden.