What a party!

The Lord Mayor's Procession took over the city with a riot of colour, music and fun.

Up to 45,000 people are expected to enjoy the festivities over the weekend, with a massive 25,000 watching the procession itself.

This year the theme for the Procession was "the elements" - and nearly 70 floats took part, with children and adults in colourful costumes, dancing to the onboard music and waving to the crowds.

Between the massive lorry-drawn floats were marching bands and majorettes, dance schools and mardi-gras style carnival costumes.

The procession was headed by traditional city leaders including the Lord Mayor and Sheriff, the Town Crier and the Whifflers, and included five massive puppets - of Lord Nelson, Neptune, an octopus, a phoenix and the Blue Meanie from the Yellow Submarine - made by local people in special carnival workshops.

Spectators were treated to around an hour of carnival floats and bands, with fun give-aways from the participants and the chance for the crowds to give cash to the scores of charity collectors accompanying the parade.

This year the two main charities are Age Concern, and Nelson's Journey, which helps bereaved children. They could share anything from £4,500 to £8,000 plus - depending on the weather and the number of collectors.

There was a fun fair and music festival in Chapelfield Gardens and more entertainment on the Centre Stage outside City Hall. Acrobats, Asian drummers, African dance, break dancers and showgirls whirled the night away - with a break at 10.30pm for the spectacular fireworks show from the Castle Mound.

The firework finale saw a show-stopping £15,000-worth of fireworks exploding over the city in a stunning seven-minute show.

Just before the procession got under way the annual Lord Mayor's 5km road race took place, with runners racing through the city streets -with a new one mile race for children.

Check out the rest of the weekend's events