THE Three Choirs festival has officially started with a procession through Worcester High Street.

Dignitaries from the three cities set off from the Guildhall to march to Worcester Cathedral for an opening service.

The festival is the oldest non-competitive classical music festival in the world and has been running for more than 300 years with Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester taking it in turns to host the event.

This year, it is Worcester's turn and the procession made for a colourful sight passing along the High Street just before 11am today (Saturday).

The group included the Mayor's Procession, which brought together the mayors from each city, their macebearers and swordbearers and guests from the local councils, West Mercia police and Hereford and Worcester fire and rescue service.

Also in the procession was the recorder of Worcester, the High Sherriff of Worcestershire and the Under Sherriff of Worcestershire as well as the county's Lord Lieutenant.

They were followed by Worcester Cathedral Choir, Bishops from the three cities, the Dean of Westminster, and other clergy.

During the service, hymns were sung including All Creatures of our God and King and Mary, weep not, weep no longer.

Michael Clarke, the chairman of the Worcester Three Choirs Festival, read from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians while Cecilia Denlegh-Maxwell, from the Friends of the Worcester Three Choirs Festival, read The Empty Tomb from John, chapter 20.

The Reverend Canon Georgina Bryne read the poem I Know Not Where They Have Laid Him by Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy.

The choir sang Psalm 100, The Song of the Three Holy Children and Anton Bruckner's Ecce Sacerdos.

Among those watching the procession was Allan Craig, a retired social worker from Worcester.

He said: "This is good for the cultural life of Worcester. People like to see it.

"It's about 300 years old and befitting of Worcester."

Chris and Anne Kemp were visiting Worcester from Cheshire and were in the Guildhall when the procession began.

Mr Kemp said: "By chance we went into the Guildhall and saw this fantastic assembly of dignitaries.

"We followed the procession down. It was wonderful to see.

"We particularly liked the caps of the three swordbearers.

"It's a wonderfully English occasion."

The world-famous festival will feature more than seventy major concerts, workshops and family-friendly events over an eight day period.