Mayor's biggest party for 800 years

Organisers of the Lord Mayor's Show are braced for the biggest turnout in its 800-year history.

Saturday's annual procession, which has been the City of London's traditional welcome to its new Lord Mayor since 1215, could attract 750,000
visitors.

"At 3.2 miles it's definitely the longest procession we've seen, with 6,000 people participating and 70-odd floats," said a Corporation of London spokesman.

The crowds expected to line the route will witness the noisiest Lord's Mayor show ever. From 11am, a fly-past of four RAF tornado jets will skim over the capital at 1,000 feet, marking the beginning of a procession featuring the show's largest-ever collection of percussion instruments, 650 Swiss guildsmen and dogs from Battersea Dogs Home.

Contributing to the clamour will be dozens of hip-hop, rap and DJ artists and London Symphony Orchestratrained community groups. Indeed, the unprecedented demand from people wanting to take part in the parade has forced some to join a waiting list for next year's event.

Meanwhile, the Met Office today promised a dry if cold day for the show.

" The temperatures are going to be quite chilly, about 11 degrees, with a wind that goes through you rather than around you," said a spokeswoman.

The procession begins with The Band of the Welsh Guards at 11am from Mansion House. It will proceed along Victoria Embankment toward the Royal Courts of Justice, where the Lord Mayor will be sworn in with an Oath of Allegiance at 12.35pm.

The return journey ends at Mansion House at 2.30pm, followed at 5pm by a fireworks display between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges.

A spokesman for the show's organisers encouraged people to take up their positions by 10am.