In pictures: London's New Year's Day parade

Four Pearly Kings and Queens in their distinctive, decorated clothing with umbrellas in hand take part in the New Year's Day parade. They are in the street and crowds of people can be seen in the background, standing behind barriers on the pavementReuters

Pearly kings and queens took part in the parade

London's annual New Year's Day parade went ahead despite warnings of strong winds and heavy rain.

The start of the event was delayed by half an hour, until 12:30 GMT, and inflatable cartoon characters were not included after advice from the Met Office.

The parade began in Piccadilly and moved down Regent Street, then on to Pall Mall and Whitehall before finishing at Westminster.

Among the thousands of participants were a marching band from Western Kentucky University, the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band, the Motor Sports International Display Team and pearly kings and queens.

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  1. Three rows of female cheerleaders wearing white boots, blue skirts, red blouses with silver buttons and white Stetson hats, hold aloft their white pompoms. BIg Ben is visible in the background.
    Reuters

    Cheerleaders were among those taking part

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