EARLY estimates suggest 12,500 people turned out for the return of May Morning celebrations in Oxford today.

After a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, the more than 500-year-old tradition made a spectacular return to the city.

Initial estimates from Oxford City Council – which uses drone footage to work out how many people attend the ticketless event – suggest a crowd of about 12,500 stretched from Longwall Street to the Plain Roundabout.

LIVE: May Day Morning celebrations are underway in Oxford

That figure matches closely with the 13,500 in 2019 – the last time May Morning was celebrated in-person.

The largest ever crowd for May Morning was reportedly about 27,000, in 2017.

Paula Redway, the city council’s cultural development manager, said: “May Morning makes Oxford the envy of the world. It is a uniquely Oxford tradition and makes us proud to be Oxonians.

“It was so uplifting to see everyone back together again after the pandemic and we hope to see in many more May Mornings together in the future.”

The council’s waste and recycling, street cleaning, and parks maintenance company – Oxford Direct Services (ODS) – supplied vehicles to block off streets for security purposes, from 4am to 8am.

Ian Thompson, ODS city centre and streetscene operations manager, said 12 staff members, with three sweepers, started cleaning the city at 4am, in readiness for the celebrations.

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