AN HISTORIC tradition made a welcome return to modern times as parishioners gathered to celebrate Manchester's Whit Walks.

Hundreds gathered in glorious sunshine to watch the colourful and musical parades in the heart of the city centre.

The traditional walks date back two centuries and are rooted in the history of Lancashire mill towns.

Parishioners and brass bands from more than 13 churches across Manchester and Salford joined the Bank Holiday parade to meet from three starting locations at Manchester town hall.

Huge crowds young and old lined the streets to clap and cheer walking church-goers. They waved flags and banners as marchers arrived to warm applause.

Each individual church and religious organisation held banners aloft as they marched.

They gathered for an open-air service outside Manchester town hall led by the Rev Rogers Govender, the Dean of Manchester. T

he Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies, preached.

The Very Rev Govender said: "This is a unique march, supporting and representing communities across Manchester."

The new Lord Mayor of Manchester councillor Alison Firth and the mayor of Salford, coun Roger Lightup, also attended.

Traditional walks were thought to be in terminal decline but have made a return over recent years.

At the height of their popularity, more than 30,000 people would attend the Whit Walks parade in Manchester, named after Whit Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter.

Whit Walks were first held in Lancashire by Sunday schools as an annual event. Churches and chapels would walk through their areas and towns to celebrate their faith before celebrations. Each congregation would display embroidered banners. Whitsuntide became an annual holiday and the mills shut down so workers could holiday.