Weather fails to rain on Reading FC's parade party

Reading won promotion after beating Nottingham Forest

The weather failed to rain on Reading FC's parade as thousands of fans lined the streets to celebrate their promotion to the Premier League.

Crowds watched as two open-top buses made their way through Reading town centre to the Madejski Stadium.

And around 15,000 supporters cheered as the players lifted the Championship trophy.

"Today has been an absolute sensation," Chairman John Madejski said.

"The amount of people who have turned out, especially on a day like today, just goes to show what people think of what has occurred."

The Royals were beaten in <link> <caption>last season's Championship play-off final,</caption> <url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13497817" platform="highweb"/> </link> but sealed automatic promotion this year with a <link> <caption>1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.</caption> <url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17661602" platform="highweb"/> </link>

They will return to the top flight next season following a four-year absence.

The club is set to be taken over by Anton Zingarevich's Thames Sport Investment group.

Manager Brian McDermott said: "It sinks in when you've got your trophy and all the supporters - this is who we worked for and this is what we played for.

"We play for the supporters and there's thousands out here."