The sun shone brightly in Bradford at the weekend as the Lord Mayor's carnival parade filled the streets with colour, fire and light.

More than 550 children from 18 schools across the district joined in the sun-themed parade, led by a giant steel elephant and four Indian horse puppets.

Drum-thumping salsa rhythms carried the procession through the city as showers of flowers were thrown from a large tower to people below.

Coloured smoke filled the air as costume-clad groups, each based on different interpretations of the sun, wowed the crowds.

From fire and light to sunflowers and rainbows, pupils from primary schools including Buttershaw, Allerton, St Joseph's, St Anthony's and Thorn Park showed off their headdresses, tabards and banners designed with the help of carnival workers who visited the schools.

The procession, one of the focal points of the two-week Bradford Festival, also included a mermaid riding a gigantic goldfish, an impressive silver costume representing reincarnation and a large red flower for wealth.

Weeks of practising paid off for members of the Buttershaw Primary School Samba Band who set the pace with the beat of their surdos and tambourims. And the Bradford-based Peace Artists celebrated their 21st year with an entertaining performance of African and Salsa music, dressed in striking black and gold costumes.

The spirit of the Caribbean was combined with Asian splendour as artists from the internationally acclaimed Runga Rung, by Emergency Exit Arts, headed the procession and carried the celebrations through to the night with a full evening performance of the spectacular show featuring a steel elephant, human Catherine Wheel and firework display.

Sheena Wrigley, head of theatres, arts and festivals at Bradford Council, said: "It is a really joyful celebration with different people from all parts of the community.

"The level of enthusiasm and involvement from local schoolchildren has been very good. And all the children have so worked hard with artists to make their costumes and banners."

Hundreds of spectators gathered in the magical gardens of Centenary Square, planted for the opening of this year's Bradford Festival, to watch the procession.

Lynn Beale, of Hebden Bridge, said she and her husband made a special trip to Bradford each year to see the parade. "It has been very good this year - much better than recent years," she said.

Tony Wyley, of Cullingworth, also enjoyed the procession. He said: "It was great and so colourful. People often criticise Bradford but this just goes to show there are lots of good things happening here and it is a good place to live."

Yvonne Western, of Allerton, enjoyed the music. "Things like this are great because they really lift the place up a bit," she said.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Allan Hillary thought the festival was good news.

He said: "I am so pleased Bradford Council has been able to put this event on and would like to thank everyone for the wonderful effort they have put in. This was done by the people of Bradford and I hope the city support it and that this is just the start of bigger things in Bradford."

The festival is to continue this week with street performances. The Mela in Peel Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, will complete the festival with a celebration of arts and cultures from the Indian sub-continent.

For further information call (01274) 434406.