Summary

  • Thousands of football fans packed the streets of Luton to celebrate their team's remarkable promotion to the Premier League

  • The players took part in a victory parade with their trophy, from an open top bus, before joining fans for a town centre celebration

  • Luton Town won promotion at Wembley on Saturday

  • The Hatters won a penalty shoot-out 6-5 against Coventry City

  • Luton were a non-league team just nine years ago, and their victory over Coventry takes them back into the top division for the first time since 1992

  1. 'We've had great support'published at 13:54 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath is greeted by 'USA, USA' chants as he steps forward to centre stage.

    "It's been a very long season. We've had great support and we're going to need it even more next year," the American tells the crowd.

  2. The open-top bus parade from the airpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    This is how it looked from the air as Luton Town made their way from Kenilworth Road to St George's Square.

    Luton Town on open top bus from the air
    Luton Town on open top bus from the air
  3. 'We are Premier League' chant Luton fanspublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Luton Town fans are in full voice as the players take to the stage.

    As top goalscorer Carlton Morris addresses the crowd, chants of "We are Premier League" can be heard.

    "It's breathtaking to be honest," said Morris. "It's incredible, the turnout today."

  4. Hard graft plays off for Clarkpublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Luton midfielder Jordan Clark tells the crowd: "It's just surreal. This group of lads are the best I've played with. I'm just so proud to be part of this team.

    "It means a lot more to you when you've been down in the lower leagues and grafted, grafted, grafted."

    Jordan ClarkImage source, Rex Features
  5. The players have arrived on stage at St George's Squarepublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    The open-top bus ride is complete and the players have arrived on stage in St George's Square. We're due to hear from them soon.

  6. 'The community spirit is amazing'published at 13:37 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Nicole Rankin and Bee PatelImage source, Alex Pope/BBC News

    Nicole Rankin and Bee Patel love the carnival atmosphere and the sense of togetherness in the town today.

    "It's brilliant, it's a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion, bringing everyone together," says Bee.

    "The community spirit is amazing."

    Nicole says it's great that everyone can share this moment, particularly those who couldn't get to Wembley.

    "The streets are completely full, everyone has come down," she adds.

  7. 'A dream come true'published at 13:36 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Alfie Doyle and Cameron WoodmanImage source, Alex Pope/BBC

    Pals Alfie Doyle (left) and Cameron Woodman (right), 18, are having the time of their lives.

    "It's unbelievable, this is a dream come true," says Cameron.

    "I love Luton, we all love Luton, it's unreal," adds Alfie, 19.

    "There are no words to describe this, it's everything.

  8. 'Special club from top to bottom'published at 13:31 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Paul Grunill
    BBC Sport

    Luton midfielder Jordan Clark is almost drowned out by fireworks as he tries to give an interview on board the bus.

    "We're not even going two miles an hour, the roads are so tight and I don't know why people are trying to drive through Luton at this time of the day. I didn't expect it to be like this," he says.

    "To do it the way we did it, I don't think there's a better way to be honest in probably the richest game in football. To win at Wembley and get into the Premier League still hadn't sunk in yet.

    "It's just a special club from top to bottom."

    Jordan Clark celebratingImage source, PA Media
  9. Captain Tom Lockyer not on the team buspublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Tom Williams
    BBC Look East sport

    Luton Town's Tom Lockyer was stretchered off the Wembley pitch during the first-half on Saturday, with fans desperate for news on their captain.

    He isn't on the bus today.

    I spoke to Jordan Clark earlier and apparently he is ok, he is up and well and I'm sure he's keeping across BBC News to get a sense of what it's all about.

  10. In pictures: Streets packed for Luton Town paradepublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Luton Town bus paradeImage source, PA Media
    Luton Town bus paradeImage source, PA Media
    Luton Town bus paradeImage source, PA Media
  11. Hatters, Hatters, what a great team!published at 13:26 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Laura Devlin
    BBC News

    They're belting out The Barron Knights' and Luton Town squad's 1974 hit Hatters, Hatters.

    I confess, I had to look that one up, but thousands are singing along to every word in St George's Square.

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  12. 'We did it!'published at 13:23 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    "We did it! Back in the big time," says the banner on the side of the bus. It might be moving slowly, the bus is definitely moving.

    Luton open-top bus paradeImage source, PA Media
  13. Carlton Morris up front as alwayspublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Paul Grunill
    BBC Sport

    Carlton MorrisImage source, Tom Williams/BBC

    Luton top scorer Carlton Morris is at the front of the bus as it slowly makes its way towards the town centre.

    Morris contributed 20 goals in 44 league appearances to the club's promotion push.

    "This is unbelievable," he says.

    "People have turned out in their thousands today. It's exciting times."

  14. View from the open-top buspublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    BBC Look East sports reporter Tom Williams is on board the open-top bus with the players. He's just sent us these photographs.

    He jokes that it's probably the "slowest bus journey" he's been on, as the sound of fireworks going off can be heard in the background.

    View from the open-top bus tour through LutonImage source, Tom Williams/BBC
    View from the open-top bus tour through LutonImage source, Tom Williams/BBC
    View from the open-top bus tour through LutonImage source, Tom Williams/BBC
    View from the open-top bus tour through LutonImage source, Tom Williams/BBC
  15. 'I want to see my heroes'published at 13:08 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    People holding a Luton Town flagImage source, Alex Pope/BBC

    Mark Woodman (right) is among thousands lining the route between Kenilworth Road and St George's Square.

    "I can't believe it, this is quality for the town, for the players, the fans, everything," he says.

    "This is just out of this world, it's a dream come true.

    "I just want to see my heroes go past.

    "I won't have much voice left, I can tell you than now."

  16. Pelly has the silverwarepublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Paul Grunill
    BBC Sport

    He's the player described by Mick Harford as an "iconic figure" at Kenilworth Road.

    Midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu has his hands on Luton's promotion trophy on board the bus. He's become the first player to go all the way from the National League to the Premier League with the same club.

    Pelly-Ruddock MpanzuImage source, BBC Look East
    Elijah Adebayo, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Amari'i BellImage source, BBC Look East
  17. Open-top bus photographed from abovepublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    We've just had this aerial photograph sent in. The players are on board the open-top bus bound for St George's Square.

    Helicopter shot of buses as they leave Kenilworth Road
    Image caption,

    The Luton Town team finally boarded the open-top double decker

  18. Vindaloo, vindaloo, naa-naa!published at 13:01 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Fans in St George's Square lutonImage source, PA Media

    The crowd has been chanting We Are Luton Town and singing along to Vindaloo by Fat Les.

    The party atmosphere is really picking up and the vibe is so positive.

    There is orange everywhere.

  19. 'Waiting for this moment my whole life'published at 12:58 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    Tyler Buckley with dad Paul and unnamed womanImage source, Alex Pope/BBC

    Orange-clad Tyler Buckley was a baby when Luton were relegated from the top flight.

    "I've been waiting for this moment my whole life, now we are finally here we can celebrate it as one big town, one big community, and one big team," he says.

    Asked if he thought he would ever see these days again, dad Paul Buckley said: "Never stop believing."

  20. Flags flying as fans wait for players to arrivepublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 29 May 2023

    As the open-top bus meanders its way to St George's Square, here are the latest scenes as fans gather there.

    It's a sea of orange with flags waving.

    Luton Town fans in St George's Square, LutonImage source, PA Media