The 1000-year-old legend that inspired pilgrimages to Waltham Abbey has been recreated.

Waltham Abbey marked the bringing of the holy cross from Montacute in Somerset to Waltham, as it was then known, by Tovi the Proud, standard bearer to King Cnut in 1035.

According to the legend, Tovi the Proud found the cross buried in the ground and loaded it onto a cart.

He called out a list of holy place names, but the oxen pulling the cart only moved when he shouted out the name of Waltham. They were said to have made the 150-mile journey as if pushed by the cross.

The cross and the abbey that grew up around it became an important centre for pilgrims for hundreds of years.

It is said that at the time the cross was transported by a team of 12 oxen and 66 Saxons.

As no one from the town was able to track down 12 oxen, a group of Waltham Abbey scouts recreated the ceremony carrying the heavy wooden cross from the Town Lock, led by two of their leaders wearing ox heads.

On Saturday four candle-lit processions formed of over a hundred people made their way from different points in the town to Waltham Abbey.

There was also a medieval themed organ recital to an audience of over 60 by Jonathon Lilley, the abbey's director of music, which was followed by fireworks.

On Sunday, there were two services at the Abbey Church.

This year the annual event, which restarted in 2011, also commemorated the centenary of the Diocese of Chelmsford and all churches in the benefice contributed to the event.