TROPICAL butterflies are set to be the stars of the show at Victoria Park in Widnes.

Volunteers are launching the 2018 season of the Butterfly House on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7, from 12 noon until 3pm.

More than 7,000 visitors came to see the butterflies last year between May and September.

Admission is free and the project is now into its fifth year.

A fun-filled day of family entertainment is planned to celebrate the opening.

Visitors will be able to view the butterflies and a refurbished garden area.

Music and crafts will be available in the glasshouses.

Following the launch, visitors can see the butterflies on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 3pm until September,.

The Butterfly House has no funding and is totally run by Victoria Park Environment Team (VPET) volunteers who also look after the woodland walk area ll year round.

The team is looking to recruit more helpers.

A volunteer recruitment morning is being held on Saturday, April 21 in the glasshouses from 10am to 11.45am.

Anyone interested can come for an informal chat and a look round. Alternatively, they can contact VPET chairman Steph Davies by emailing sstephyd@aol.com, or via the VPET Facebook Page @VictoriaParkEnviornmentTeamButterflyHouse.

The Butterfly House is completely reliant on donations to stay open and members of the public who visit the Butterfly House often give donations when they are able to.

It costs around £2,000 just to purchase the butterflies during each season.

Any members of the public, groups or businesses wishing to support The Butterfly House with a donation or sponsorship of plants, t-shirts or equipment can visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/butterflyhousewidnes or email chairman Steph Davis at sstephyd@aol.com.