TWO Halesowen dads have set up a business staging birthday parties for gaming-mad youngsters in the town.

Dean Ford and David Tillotson have started Base 63 - a gaming zone for parties - at Centre Court, Vine Lane, near Macdonalds in Halesowen.

They came up with the idea after their 10-year-old sons, who are both in year six at Lutley Primary and play for Halas Hawks under 11s, went to a unique birthday party.

Father-of-two Dean, aged 48, said: "It all started when we took our sons to a birthday party about a year ago where the dad had asked his work if he could use the office and had taken in PS3, PS4 and Xboxes for the kids to play on.

"They were all linked up with earpieces and microphones.

"They came back and said it was the best party they had ever been to."

Base 63 - which has a website at www.base63.co.uk has 12 Xbox consoles and adapters for PS4 controllers. There are hundreds of games for youngsters to choose from including Fortnite, Rocket League, Roblox and FIFA.

Dean said: "There are bigger venues around in areas like Birmingham but ours is smaller - it's something new.

"It's really interactive - we can do competitions for them.

"There's a chill-out room for parents and a projector screen where we show films for any younger siblings."

Self-employed computer programmer and 35-year-old father-of-three David and Dean, who runs Full Range Printing Solutions at Centre Court, set up Base 63 in the premises above the firm, just off the A456.

Anyone interested can call 07415 842 988 or visit the website.