ORGANISERS are celebrating another successful Knutsford Royal May Day – the 142nd celebration of the tradition in the town.

Hundreds took part in the parade and thousands lined the streets to watch on Saturday, May 6, from the start point at Wright Marshall’s yard in Church Hill all along the near-two-mile route to the coronation ceremony on The Heath, joined by a funfair to carry on the celebrations.

The tradition was born 153 years ago in 1864, breaking only during war time, and has remained a highlight in the Knutsford calendar.

Among those joining the procession were hundreds of children walking or riding on lorries in costume, along with marching bands providing a soundtrack to the day and dance groups adding to the unique spectacle.

Royal May Day committee member Eileen Podmore said: “It went really well.

“The children were wonderful and they smiled all the way around.

“They are real troopers in Knutsford. They are all smashing – we say to them ‘put a jumper on’ or ‘put a coat on’ but they were all fine.

“They want to show off their costumes and stay in character – you can’t not be pleased with that.

“The day is all about the children in Knutsford and the surrounding areas. We are all there to support them and make sure they have a good day.

“A lot of the parents and people in the crowd have been the characters themselves. They look out for the costumes they walked round in and things like that, and I just think that’s wonderful.”

Parents are kindly asked to return their children's Royal May Day costumes to Egerton Youth Club in Mereheath Lane on Friday, May 12, between 3pm and 5.30pm.