Dancers and musicians swept through the town centre, stopping outside pubs to entertain the crowds during the 28th Straw Bear Festival.

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The star of the show was the Straw Bear himself, dressed from head to toe in straw from last year's harvest.

The centre of the town was gridlocked as Saturday's procession paraded from the Ivy Leaf Club, in Gracious Street, down Broad Street and along Market Street.

The weekend of celebrations culminated yesterday with the ceremonial burning of a straw bear on the bonfire.

Peterborough couple Andrew and Karen Robson, took their daughter Darya (3), to watch the fun.

Mr Robson said: "I've come for a pint of Straw Bear beer at the pub and, of course, it's the perfect family day out. It's the third year that we've brought along Darya and she loves it."

Mrs Robson added: "It's a unique event and it's great to see that people are still prepared to make an effort to keep the tradition going."

There were also three generations of the German family who turned out for the event.

Grandmother Evelyn German, from Ramsey, said: "We love the costumes, the atmosphere and everything about it. My husband plays the accordion, so he is fascinated by the music."

Another family member, Tracey German, who lives in Whittlesey, said organisers of the event had visited the Park Lane Primary School, which her daughter Millie attended.

She said: "Millie was very excited, though she was a little scared of the black faces."

Seven-year-old Millie added: "We did some dancing at school and it was great fun."

Back in the 19th century the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival was an excuse for the ploughboys to party.

It was resurrected in 1980, largely thanks to the efforts of the Whittlesea Society.