A large crowd celebrated the ancient tradition of ‘beating the bounds’ on Sunday as they ceremonially marked out the edge of Leyton Marsh.

Around 70 adults, plus children and dogs, turned out to take part in the annual tradition on Rogation Sunday.

The ceremony is carried out once a year around the country to mark significant boundaries, such as those of a parish, village green or ancient manor.

For many centuries the most important boundary was that with arch-rivals Walthamstow and on several occasions these community processions spilled over into actual violence.

The turnout was thought to be either the largest or second-largest in nearly 20 years in the area.

Katy Andrews, who took part in the entire procession, said: “It was fantastic, the weather was perfect and there was a massive crowd – bigger than we expected on the bank holiday. 

It was even bigger than the year we did the Viking fight on the bridge.”

She added that it all went very smoothly, except when one child fell over and scraped his knee on the way into the pub.