The weather just held out for more than 600 Scouts who packed into Centenary Square for their annual St George's Day parade, pictured here.

Bradford's Lord Mayor, Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, accepted the Scouts' salutes as they marched past him at noon yesterday while he stood on a white wooden podium surrounded by other dignitaries.

Musicians from some of the 20 Scout groups, who came from across the district to take part, played familiar classics as the first drops of rain started to fall. Earlier they had attended a service in the Great Hall at the University of Bradford's Richmond Building before they marched to the city centre.

The parade was moved for the first time from its usual afternoon spot to the morning to allow families to have the rest of the day to themselves.

Bradford South Scout District Commissioner Ian Walmsley said: "I think it's important to mark St George's Day as it often gets neglected, unlike St Andrew's Day or St Patrick's Day which are celebrated with much more vigour.

"We need to celebrate the good things about England, and as the Scouts have been around since 1907, that's also another good thing to celebrate."

Coun Khaliq said: "I was very pleased to see so many young people taking part in the service and the march in Bradford.

"I was honoured to be invited and to take the salute."

Crowds also gathered at Ilkley and Bingley to watch their respective town parades.