After a week when Chester was hit by torrential rain and flash floods , the sun eventually shone for the city’s traditional Midsummer Watch Parade on Saturday.

Angels, devils, fish, ravens, goddesses, giants, monsters and musicans lined the streets for the colourful medieval display.

Led by artist Russell Kirk, the parade is a favourite in the city calendar and the repeat performance on Sunday was marred only by a few spots of rain.

Schools across the borough promenaded through the streets with Charles Darwin School as ravens, Dee Point Primary as fish and Cherry Grove Primary a flock of geese. Newton Primary were the pirates, joined by Boughton Heath Primary as fiery monsters, Belgrave as angels and Hoole All Saints Primary school as suns.

Upton councillor Jill Houlbrook in the Midsummer Watch Parade in Chester - Sunday June 19
Upton councillor Jill Houlbrook in the Midsummer Watch Parade in Chester

Wrexham WI took part in the parade for the first time as birds and Minerva Arts were the green men.

The cast of up to 500 also included Chester’s unique Family of Giants - four-metre high figures of a father, mother and two daughter.

The Family of Giants on Eastgate Street

Led by the summer watch drummer and Karamba Samba, the City Guilds can be seen followed by a pirate ship, an elephant and castle, and characters known as Balaam’s ass and Cernunnus the Celtic Lord of the Forest.

The history of the parade dates from 1498 making it one of the country’s oldest and most colourful street parades. The Summer Watch was originally staged by the City Guilds at Midsummer; it was disbanded in the 1670’s before being revived in 1989.