Thousands to join book-themed children's parade

Thousands of children are set to take to Brighton's streets on Saturday for the annual children's parade.

The event, which is in its 40th year, is due to kick off the three-week Brighton Festival.

This year the parade has the theme of books, inspired by the National Year of Reading.

Woodingdean Primary School is one of many schools taking part - with the headteacher saying the parade brings out the pupils' creative side.

Headteacher Gemma Chamnansin said: "We pride ourselves on doing lots of enriching activities over the year, but I must say the children's parade is probably one of our favourites.

"It's a really really lovely community event."

The school procession will involve a viking longboat, complete with painted shields and a dragon's head.

River, one of the children planning to take part in the parade, said making the model vessel was the "hardest bit".

"The bit I was involved with was we had to get almost like harder than normal toilet paper, drench it in glue, slap it on and that makes a plastery bit."

Meral, another child, said: "I loved doing the boat. I got to stick some of the paper on.

"It was really fun."

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