Chester's Winter Watch parade will return to the city this week.

Taking place on Thursday 4 December at 7pm, it will start from the Christmas Market in Town Hall Square.

Unique to Chester, the Winter Watch Parade can be traced back to archive records from the 1400s, when Chester's City Watch looked after the keys of the city at Christmas.

After marching around Chester to make sure it was secure, the city''s leaders would enjoy a banquet and celebration of Christmas.

Led by Chester's Karamba Samba dressed as a ghost band, today the parade includes a cast of characters originating from the 1400s.

It also includes Jack Frost, an angel, fire skeletons, dragon, ice queens, devils, and cooks with their Victorian Christmas dinner.

"We started the festive celebrations with the 12 Days' of Christmas parade and the Lantern Parade," said Councillor Lisa Denson.

"Now we welcome the popular Winter Watch Parade, unique to Chester. 

"Chester's Karamba Samba are well known for leading our Midsummer Watch parade but now they turn into a ghost band to lead the Winter Watch parades."

For those unable to attend the event, there will be a second Winter Watch parade on Thursday 11 December, alongside the Saturnalia parade.

Chester Park and Ride is running late night services over Christmas, with the last bus from Foregate Street leaving at 9pm every Thursday.