ANYONE for tennis?

Gloomy weather did not put off Wimbledon fans turning Castle Park into their very own Murray Mound on the first day of Colchester’s annual Summer Screen beamed in pictures of the tennis from SW19.

The crowd tuned into Andy Murray’s opening his defence of his title as he swept aside Kazakhstan player Alexander Bublik 6-1 6-4 6-2 despite a brief shower on the court and in the park.

Visitors to the screen will be able to watch tennis action up until 8.30pm each night until the end of the championships next Sunday.

But the coverage will be interrupted this weekend as a host of popular movies are played as part of the Pictures in Park programme.

On Friday night romantic favourite Dirty Dancing will be shown - gates open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start.

Youngsters are welcome for a showing of Disney classic The Jungle Book on Saturday afternoon, where there will also be face painting and a bouncy castle.

Afterwards the hills of the park will be alive with The Sound of Music as the classic musical begins at 6pm.

On Sunday, the offerings are set to be out of this world screening of E.T. - the Extra-Terrestrial in the afternoon and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in the evening.

Tickets are still available for each of the film screenings priced at £5 for adults and £3 for children in advance.

Space permitting, entry will be available on the door before the screenings but prices increase by £1.

During Pictures in the Park food and drink will be available from Café in the Park during and stalls set up alongside the screen.

A licensed bar, popcorn, ice cream and pizza and further pop-up food kiosks will all be on offer.

Food and alcohol will be permitted to be brought onto site, but alcohol will can only be consumed within the screen venue area.

The bar will also operate in the second half of Wimbledon fortnight.

This is the third year the Colchester Council event has been held and a computer game tournament is also scheduled for next weekend.

Culture boss Tim Young (Lab) said: “The Summer Screen has become a regular event in Colchester’s summer calendar.

“It’s the perfect way to bring the people of Colchester together to enjoy sport and films within the beautiful setting of the Castle Park.”

Portfolio holder for business Annie Feltham (Lib Dem) added: “It’s proved to be a popular community event that gives us the opportunity to raise the profile of sport within Colchester and encourage local people and those from further afield into the town to enjoy everything we have to offer.”

For full listings and tickets visit colchester-events.co.uk/summerscreen.