This year’s Children’s Parade was as successful as ever.

Thousands of people gathered in Brighton at 10.30am on Saturday for the event which heralded the start of the three-week Brighton Festival and Fringe.

It is estimated about 5,000 school children from across the city took part – most dressed in elaborate costumes.

The mood of the event, this year themed “the arts”, was jubilant. Pupils were dressed as pirates, clocks and characters from films.

Music played as children and school staff took the streets. Ebony Watts, 34, of Moulsecoomb walked alongside her son Malakai, nine.

Malakai, a pupil at Moulsecoomb Primary in The Highway, Brighton, played the drums.

“It’s great,” he said.

“I’m having a great time.”

His mother added: “It’s a fantastic event.”

The children of Moulsecoomb Primary were led in their drumming by samba teacher Chris Taylor, of Brighton, who has helped for the past 15 years.

His wife Nicky, who joined in the fun, said: “He loves it and the children really enjoy it.”

Lizzie Marmion, whose daughter Millie, seven, attends St John the Baptist Catholic Primary in Whitehawk Hill Road, Brighton, said she was having a great time.

The 41-year-old cheered as Millie, dressed as a Von Trapp child from The Sound of Music, went past.

Millie added: “I’m having lots of fun.”

Pupils and staff from Fairlight Primary in St Leonards Road, Brighton, dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz.

The theme were organised by teachers Janine Lilly and Michelle Marshall – both dressed as Dorothy.

Mrs Lilly said: “It’s fantastic.

“The children and parents have really got into it and put an enormous amount of effort in.

“We’ve got 90 children here.”

Heather Turnbull, of Queens Park, Brighton, watched her daughter Olivia who played the role of a snake – park of The Jungle Book. Olivia, eight, is a pupil at St Luke’s Primary in Queens Park Rise, Brighton.

Her mother said: “She loves it.

“She is having a great time.”

Olivia said: “I’m having really good fun.”

Liam Collington, 34, watched daughter Jasmine, eight, in her 1920s-style flapper outfit.

The youngster joined fellow pupils at Woodingdean Primary in Warren Road who were dressed as Bugsy Malone characters.

“I’m having lots of fun,” Jasmine said, while her father added: “It’s really great.”