Sun shines on mayoral pageant

Lord Mayor Alex Maskey said the show would amuse and astound

Thousands of people have turned out to attend the annual Lord Mayor's parade in Belfast.

Salsa bands and circus performers entertained the crowds at this year's revamped show on Saturday.

Almost 1,000 performers were expected to take part in the parade, which left Writer's Square in Donegall Street at 1300 BST.

Its route included Royal Avenue, Castle Junction, Donegall Place and on to the City Hall, where Lord Mayor Alex Maskey judged the floats.

The performers then went round the City Hall into Howard Street, College Square East and Wellington Place, before making its way back along Donegall Place and Royal Avenue to the Cathedral Quarter.

The theme of this year's event - Our Belfast - Don't Waste It! - was recycling, which was highlighted by participants' costumes.

About three quarters of household waste produced in Belfast could be recycled or composted

Alex Maskey
Lord mayor

The show's chosen charity was the Play Resource Warehouse, which provides recycled materials to education and community groups for arts and crafts.

Belfast City Council invested £50,000 to "make the show bigger, brighter and more accessible".

Mr Maskey said: "It is a people festival with lots of colour to entertain, amuse and astound.

"The council and the Junior Chamber of Commerce have put a lot of work into making the show a success."

Best float awards

He added: "Reducing waste is a corporate priority in Belfast City Council. By choosing recycling as this year's theme for the lord mayor's show we are trying to highlight that everyone has a part to play in reducing waste.

"It is especially important to get that message across to young people who will make up the bulk of participants in the show.

"About three quarters of household waste produced in Belfast could be recycled or composted and what better way to highlight that than by encouraging people to do something positive with waste."

The best float awards were presented in Writer's Square at the end of the show.

The parade, which is organised by the Belfast Junior Chamber of Commerce, has been running for 47 years.