Giant red ball pit appears in city centre as Brits forget how to have fun

A giant red ball pit appeared in Manchester city centre this week, with a study finding that many adults in the UK have forgotten how to have fun

A massive red ball pit popped up in Manchester, proving that fun knows no age bounds.

The gigantic pit, measuring 10m by 5m and filled with a whopping 65,000 bright red balls, was impossible to miss and with the a little encouragement from TV personality Chloe Burrows, passers-by couldn't resist the urge to jump in.

The 'Babybel-ball pit' was created by Babybel ahead of Red Nose Day on 21st March, featuring special branded balls that triggered a £1 donation for every one of them found.

The initiative follows a Babybel-commissioned study that revealed a staggering 42% of adults feel they've lost touch with how to have fun.

It discovered that Brits say the average age 'fun' stops is 42, with a whopping 77% admitting they miss the carefree days of their youth.

A Babybel spokesperson explained: "As life gets busier, fun can sometimes take a backseat to responsibilities, routines and expectations. But having fun isn't something we should outgrow - it's something worth holding onto."

The study highlighted that one in five adults struggle to fit fun into their weekly routines, citing lack of time, energy, and work commitments.

While 85% are keen to reconnect with their sense of fun, 60% feel pressured to act more maturely, and 58% feel more self-conscious about themselves when they join in.

"This giant ball pit - with its 'Find It. Drop It. Donate It' donation mechanic - is a playful reminder that fun has a place at every stage of life, and a little bit of fun can do a lot of good," the spokesperson added.

Babybel, a long-standing ally of Comic Relief, has already raised over £1.7 million for the charity and is chipping in another £150,000 this year. The cash will go towards helping families affected by conflict both here in the UK and around the world.

The research also revealed that 26% of adults reckon they need to stop fretting about what others think to get back to having fun, while 41% are crying out for more free time.

On top of that, 41% admitted they'd be more inclined to get stuck into charitable or community activities if they were a bit more entertaining.

Wrapping things up, the spokesperson said: "We believe that doing good can and should be fun - which is why our partnership of over 25-years with Comic Relief is so special to us.

"Together, we've shown how laughter and joy not only make us feel good but also inspire meaningful change."