Chester's Midsummer Watch Parade returns this month as one of the country's oldest and most colourful street parades.

Taking place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, the parade starts from Chester Town Hall Square and will be led by the City Guilds alongside Chester's Karamba Samba Band.

The procession departs at 2pm on both days, travelling along St Werburgh Street, Eastgate Street, The Cross, Watergate Street and Bridge Street before returning to Town Hall Square for a finale.

This year's parade features a host of characters and creatures including dragons, angels, the Chester ravens, unicorns, stags, hobby horses, green men, Balaam's Ass, Cernunnos the Celtic lord of the forest, an antelope, the Hippogriff from Greek mythology, and a devil band.

Among the parade's most eye-catching features is a family of four-metre-tall giants, currently being rebuilt ahead of their return to the streets.

The father first appeared last year, while a new mother giant will make her debut this year.

St Werburgh, the patron saint of Chester, will also join the parade from Chester Cathedral's West Door, accompanied by children from the Saturday singing group and Children's Church, who will appear as her flock of geese.

Schoolchildren from across the borough have taken part in workshops to create additional characters. Dee Point will appear as fiery monsters, Belgrave as suns, Grosvenor Park as green men, Hoole as ravens, Tarvin as fish, and Newton as dragons.

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The new Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Margaret Parker, will join the Saturday parade alongside Dorothy Trussell, President of the Freemen & Guilds of the City of Chester. On Sunday, Dorothy Trussell will be joined on the chariot by the Sheriff of Chester, Councillor Alan Smith.

Cllr Parker said: "The main characters in the parade are based on archive records of the parade that can be traced to 1498.

"I'd like to thank artist Russell Kirk who has built the characters and performs alongside the massive cast that includes over 150 school children."