'Five things that made me smile as I walked through Stockport town centre'

It was the greyest of grey days in Stockport on a Thursday afternoon, but there was still much to smile about in this great Greater Manchester town.

As I stomped down Wellington Road into Mersey Square there were shoppers milling about, and schoolchildren coming home with their parents.

The familiar mixed with the bizarre when one vehicle bumped into another at the lights.

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Having nudged the back of a delivery driver's van, a woman motorist got out wearing a fancy dress red cape and crown, as if the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland had turned up on Wellington Road.

And with a little bit of everyday magic, instead of kicking off at each other, the two drivers laughed it off and got on with their day.

Apart from the passers-by, there are lots of other things going on in the town that didn't just make me smile - but will cheer Stopfordians in the days, weeks, and months to come.

The town centre is becoming more attractive as regeneration of the area continues, with street art bringing colour to the streets.

Four pieces form part of the Rediscovering the Underbanks initiative funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Jimi Hendrix mural by Otto Schade, located on the site of the former caretakers flat at Merseyway, is the first I stumbled upon. It pays homage to the gig at the Sinking Ship Club in 1967 where Hendrix played.

There are also the Shop Small, Love Local murals by Emily Flanagan, located in the window arches under St.Petersgate Bridge, and Mural Life by Russ Meehan aka Qubek, opposite the Cracked Actor.

This piece includes fish and flowers to signify the Tin Brook that runs below, as well as other objects