About six thousand Sikhs from across West Yorkshire took part in a colourful procession in Bradford city centre on Saturday.

The procession, pictured, which began at the Gurdwara Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan temple on Peckover Street, was to celebrate the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

It took about five hours for them to visit six temples, later returning to Peckover Street.

The procession was ablaze with saffron, red and yellow colours while the streets echoed with drumming and music.

Jarnail Ram, president of the Guru Ravidas Community Centre in Brearton Street, was keeping warm with hot drinks while he waited for the procession to arrive.

Many stalls were set out along the road outside the temple to give out hot drinks and pakoras. His temple was the first one visited by the procession.

He said: "All the temples are decorated today. We give out food to the people in the procession and read the Holy Book. It is a very important time of the year for us."

Some young men at the front of the procession used kirpan swords to mimic the battles that took place when the Khalsa was created in India in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh.

The Five Beloved were also depicted by five men dressed in orange robes, wearing garlands and also carrying swords.

Rajinder Raju, 31, of Thornton, was watching the procession. She said: "I come here every year to watch. It is especially important for the kids to see it so they do not lose their culture and heritage."