SHOPPERS browsing for a bargain in the Bull Ring’s markets were treated to a bone-crunching display of world class wrestling.

For four hours, 15 man mountains threw each other around the specially-constructed open air ring on Edgbaston Street on Saturday afternoon.

And the fearsome wrestlers from Alternative Wrestling World were happy to pose for photos with enthralled children as they took a break from their death-defying leaps and strangleholds.

Stuart Smith, from AWW, said: “We had a fantastic day at the Bull Ring Markets and we were delighted to see so many families enjoying the wrestling.

“I am sure we have a new legion of fans after the open air shows.”

He added: “Due to the success of the show on Saturday we are hoping to return and do it all again sometime in August.”

And he hopes the Bull Ring Markets show is the first step to bringing back the heydays of British wrestling in the 1980s when millions tuned in to watch the sport on a Saturday.

He said: “Our aim is to bring back UK wrestling into the mainstream, getting it onto terrestrial television for the first time since the days of Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks in World of Sport.

“We’re about to launch our TV show on Red TV, Sky channel 186, so the show at the markets can only bolster our position.”

The wrestling at the Bull Ring Markets is the latest in a long line of events designed to build on the success of winning the Best Outdoor Market award and gaining the prestigious Charter Mark award.

On Friday the markets will host the Market Trader Awards where Carl Chinn and Deputy Leader of the Council Paul Tilsley will be handing gongs to the winning traders.

Then, on August 9, funk soul group Monday Session will perform with support from funk blues and rock four piece Lazy J, again from noon onwards.

* For more information on events at Bull Ring Markets visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/markets.bcc