A samba band brought a bit of rhythm to a procession through the town in a break from traditional civic parades.

Macclesfield mayor Alift Harewood-Jones led the Civic Parade from the Town Hall to the Methodist Church at the weekend, with representatives from community organisations including the Air Training Corps 201 (Macclesfield) Squadron, Royal British Legion, Scouts and Guiding groups. A church service followed the procession.

The mayor is traditionally accompanied in civic parades by a military band. But Alift wanted to break from tradition - and add a bit of rhythm. She asked a samba band from arts project Macclesfield Community Artspace to take part and add a carnival beat to the parade.

Alift said: “The parade went really well and was a great show of many areas of the community.

“I’ve seen military bands in civic parades before but I thought the samba band would bring some rhythm to the parade. People were dancing in the street.

“It was a bit of a break from tradition but caught people’s attention and the samba band are part of an emerging culture of arts in Macclesfield so we should celebrate that.”