Thousands line streets for new-look Mayor's Parade

Led by the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes, the floats and walking groups started outside the Horse and Jockey pub in Woodstock Road and made their way through the city centre to South Park, Headington, where there were stalls and a fun fair.

The event, sponsored by the Oxford Mail, had a new look this year, with the emphasis on walkers rather than traditional groups on floats.

Three parties from Bonn, Oxford's German twin town, joined the fun - the Youth Jazz Band, folk dancers and a choir.

Edward Jacobs, six, has fun clowning around at the Lord Mayor's Parade in Oxford - sponsored by the Oxford Mail

Balliol College Day Nursery, the Sparkle Stage Set drama school, the City of Oxford Morris Men and the Oxford Harlequins Rugby Football Club were also among those taking part.

Children from St Francis First School, Rose Hill First School and Church Cowley St James First School, all in Oxford, dressed in costumes adorned with crisp packets, CDs and empty food packaging and rode aboard Oxford City Council's City Works recycling float.

Stalls in the park included the Blue Cross animal charity, the Home Farm Trust for people with learning disabilities and the Oxford Isis Lions Club, which was raising money for an adventure playground for children and a park for the elderly in Perm, the Russian town linked with Oxfordshire.

The new Lord Mayor of Oxford, Cllr Peter Moss, and Oxford Isis Lions' president Mike Moon judged the floats and costumes.

The first prize was jointly shared by the Bonn Youth Band and the children's Recycling float, with second prize going to the Oxford Harlequins and Balliol Day Nursery.

Mr Moon said: "It has been an excellent parade - one of the best I have known."