Champions Bournemouth hold open-top bus parade

Thousands of people packed Bournemouth beach to celebrate the team's promotion

Bournemouth have celebrated promotion to the Premier League with an open-top bus parade in front of an estimated 60,000 supporters.

The Cherries' 3-0 win over Bolton last Monday effectively sealed promotion, with the title clinched on Saturday.

It will be the first time the club has played in English football's top flight.

The seafront parade took the team from Boscombe Pier to Bournemouth Pier through streets lined with fans.

Bournemouth's first team and local media were on board the bus as it made its way to Bournemouth Pier

Bournemouth won the Championship title with a 3-0 victory at Charlton Athletic, as Watford slipped up late on against Sheffield Wednesday.

Eddie Howe's squad started the celebrations at Boscombe Pier before the tour ended just east of Bournemouth Pier.

"It's an incredible turnout from the people of Bournemouth," said Howe.

"It just goes to show how much they really support their football club. They've shown their support to the players, which is a magnificent thing so early in the morning.

"It's been such an amazing season and this weekend has been the most fitting of climaxes."

Supporters captured their own pictures as the bus left Boscombe

Just seven years ago AFC Bournemouth was five minutes from liquidation, and a year later the squad was one game away from going out of the Football League.

In January 1997, the club was so penniless a bucket collection was arranged at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth town centre.

Fans arrived from early morning in Boscombe with some topical banners

The Cherries began their campaign with a 4-0 victory at Huddersfield.

Their 8-0 win over Birmingham in October was the first time they had scored eight in a league game, barring a 10-0 win in 1939 which was expunged after World War Two broke out the next day.

Hundreds of supporters were ready to see the start of the parade from Boscombe Pier

Crowds were waiting at the start in Boscombe several hours before the team arrived

The parade rounded off a weekend of celebrations for Bournemouth's players

Eddie Howe, 37, took charge of the Cherries in January 2009, becoming the youngest boss in the Football League

Fans invaded the pitch after the match between Bournemouth and Bolton Wanderers

AFC Bournemouth have never been in the Premier League before