RESIDENTS and wellwishers gathered in Bolton town centre today to welcome in the new mayor and mayoress at the civic Sunday parade.

Bolton town centre was cordoned off to traffic to make way for the parade, led by Bolton Sea Cadets, to mark the appointment of Cllr Carole Swarbrick as mayor and Jaleh Hayes as her mayoress.

The procession was witnessed by hundreds of onlookers who lined the town centre streets as the mayor joined the walk from the town hall to Bolton Parish Church, where a service took place.

Taking part in the parade were military groups such as The Royal British Legion, Bolton Veterans, Bolton Sea Cadets, 14th Bolton Boys' Brigade, 6th Farnworth Scouts, Beaver and Cubs Group, and The Bolton Hoover Band.

Dave Thomas, standard bearer for Bolton Veterans, said: "We look forward to coming here every year and joining the parade.

"We look forward to leading the mayor down into the service in Bolton Parish Church.

"It is always nice to join the parade and represent the legion".

The parade began at 2.20pm with drums from the Bolton Hoover Band, who then led the music for the parade.

Andy Pearson, who plays cornet in Bolton Hoover Band, said: "We are really happy to be involved.

"It is always a privilege and we have been in the parade for many many years.

"We are Bolton's band so it is nice to be able to represent the town."

Other groups were excited about their first appearance in the parade.

Katie Walshaw, sectional assistant beaver at the 6th Farnworth scouts group said: "We are really honoured. We love doing parades, but this is something different for us.

"This is the first time we have been involved with this parade so it really is a great honour."

For the 14th Bolton Boys' Brigade, it was business as usual after celebrating the brigade's 100th anniversary last year.

Cath Jones, captain of the Boys' Brigade said: "We always look forward to it every year and it lets everyone know that we are still here and we are still going."