A BIRTHDAY party for toddlers was given a real lift with the help of 2,000 balloons.

The highlight of the celebration to mark the first anniversary of the Sure Start programme, in Grangetown, was the release of balloons from a giant birthday cake.

Members of Sure Start, who give support to parents and under-fives in Grangetown, South Bank, Whale Hill, Lackenby and Lazenby, gave each child a goodie bag which included a T-shirt, sun hat, sunglasses and a picnic bag.

Sure Start manager Catherine Pickering said: "We wanted parents and children to enjoy themselves and celebrate the first year of a very successful programme."

Children also enjoyed stilt-walking and puppet theatre, while parents had the chance to find out about aromatherapy and head massage