Thousands rise early for May Morning celebrations

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 7, Thousands of people outside the Radcliffe Camera, The Oxford tradition attracts thousands to the city centre at daybreak.
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More than 14,000 people gathered in Oxford to celebrate May Morning.

Crowds lined the High Street and Magdalen Bridge from 06:00 BST to hear the bells ring and a Latin hymn sung by the college choir from the top of Magdalen College tower.

Morris dancing, folk singing and tree costumes are all part of the celebrations which date back more than 500 years.

Roads in the city centre reopened at 09:00 following the festivities.

Media caption,

May Morning celebrations in Oxford

The crowds stretched from Long Wall Street to the Plain Roundabout as the sun rose.

The Magdalen College choir sang Hymnus Eucharisticus from the college's Great Tower as part of the traditional ceremony.

Paula Redway, cultural development manager of Oxford City Council said: "May Morning is such a fantastic Oxford tradition, and this year again saw a brilliant event for the city.

"It was wonderful to see thousands of residents and visitors celebrate the arrival of spring together."

Media caption,

More than 14,000 people came together for Oxford's historic May Morning celebrations.

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