HUNDREDS of scouts from across the Bradford district gathered in the city centre today to celebrate their patron saint's special day.

St George is the patron saint of scouts around the world because of his brave, noble and loyal spirit - all qualities Baden Powell saw fit to represent the scouting movement.

Today, Scouts from Bradford South and Bradford North met in Centenary Square ready for their annual parade up Market Street, past the new Broadway shopping centre and to the cathedral for a thanksgiving service before making their way back.

The line of banners and flags snaked its way past crowds of proud families and friends who turned out to wave them on their way, led by Bradford South band and then the turn of Bradford North on their return, for a march past where Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, took the salute.

Scout leader Emma Bairstow, better known as Rabbit to the boys and girls of 4th Bradford North, was thrilled with the turn out.

"It's great to see everyone here. It's a fantastic turnout. We've got 27 Beavers, 19 cubs then our scouts just with us. There must be hundreds here. It's a massive day for us because it is celebrating our patron saint."

Mum Kairen Delahunty, from Thornton, was in the crowd to see her daughter Faith, 7, march past with the Thornton Beavers group.

"I'm so proud. It's been really exciting. The young ones are really proud to be in the parade too," she said.

George Wroe, who ran the former Bradford East cubs in Holme Wood 20 years ago, was there to see his 16-year-old granddaughter Olivia Wroe march with her Rangers group from Queensbury.

"When she was little we tried to get her to join cubs but she wouldn't have it. Now she's older and in to it we couldn't get her out of it if we tried. She loves it."

Elsewhere, Bradford has been celebrating St George's Day across the district by getting creative and having fun all for a good cause.

Pupils in Years 4 and 5 at St Matthew’s CofE Primary School in Mayo Avenue, West Bowling, used arts and crafts to make their own dragons and knight's armour as a nod to England's patron saint.

The youngsters took part in group activities based around St George with the help of neighbouring St Matthew's Parish Church helping strengthen links between the two.

Some of the children who enjoyed the activities were Brodie Stones, Hafsah Mahmood and Hibah Ul-Haque who were pictured with their own creations from left to right.

Meanwhile, The Brown Cow at Wyke was decked out with England's red and white colours at an all-day event to raise funds for Help For Heroes.

Pub manager Demi Dooley hopes to have raised more than £250 for the charity but still has more coins to count. She said: "We chose the charity because it helps brave people. We thought it was fitting on St George's Day. We had a barbecue, bouncy castle, facepainting, raffle prizes and music from a band. It was crazy."

St George even got a look in at Brighouse at its Sixties festival on Saturday when some of the locals dressed up as the knight as part of the town's revelries.

On Friday the Lord Mayor welcomed officials from the Bradford branch of the Royal Society of St George to Bradford Council’s headquarters marking St George’s Day a day early. Jimmy Fergusson and Nora Whitham from the society presented Cllr Dodds with a basket of red roses.

Keighley enjoyed a special St George’s Day market in the town on Saturday and, later today, scouts are due to parade from its St Anne’s Church in Keighley. A scouts parade also took place from Saltaire URC Church.