Video: Slideshow - Hundreds enjoyed Mansfield Purple Flag party

Among the attractions crowds enjoyed were a steel pan band performance, street performers, a colliery band and a flash mob dance.

Mansfield Business Improvement District (BID) Manager Sarah Nelson, who led on planning the party said: “It was a great evening, with a fantastic atmosphere and plenty to enjoy.

“It gave people a chance to experience venues like the Old Library, Museum and the library that do provide entertainment and activities throughout the year.

“The party proved the point that Mansfield is a great, safe place in which people of all ages can enjoy an evening out.”

An evening market was set up and shops in the Four Seasons shopping centre stayed open late.

Also keeping its doors open into the evening was Mansfield Museum.

As the evening continued a health and beauty show featuring products and services from high street retailers including Boots, Harmony Health, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, M&S and Peacocks took place in the library and young performers stunned the audience with their energetic after-show party.

Carrying the celebration on into the late night, restaurants offered discounts on meals and licensed premises including the Bowl in Hand and Cheeky Monkey served purple cocktails and shooters.

There is still a chance to catch some of the party attractions. A pop-up photography exhibition in Queen’s Place, which includes Neil Pledger’s Footprints of Mansfield series showing how Mansfield has changed since the 60s and 70s is to open on Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm to 8pm for the next few weeks.

The light box exhibition will remain in front of the Old Town Hall until May 17 before it heads off to London.

Purple Flag is an accreditation scheme that recognises excellence in the management of town centres at night. It can be seen as the equivalent of the Blue Flag awarded to good beaches.

Work to gain the award for Mansfield was led by a team set up in 2013 and involving representatives from Mansfield Association of Licensed Venues (MALV), Mansfield BID, Mansfield District Council, Mansfield Partnership Against Crime (MPAC) and the police. Many other organisations which contribute to the town centre experience have also played a role in the work.

Footfall figures show that the number of people in town between 4pm and 11pm on Saturday (April 25) were up a huge 24% during the same period on the Saturday (April 18) before.