MORE than 700 youngsters took part in a huge St George's Day Parade through the streets of Barnet.

Barnet High Street was shut on Sunday for the parade involving Scouts, Guides and the Boys Brigade from across the borough to march through the streets in glorious sunshine.

Crowds gathered on the pavement to clap and cheer the young people as they celebrated the annual parade for the patron saint of England.

They walked from the Territorial Army Centre in St Albans Road to Queen Elizabeth Boy's School in Wood Street, where they had a non-religious ceremony to mark the varying religions involved.

During the ceremony they youngsters, parents and leaders sang songs and renewed their promises.

There was also a dramatisation of the story St George slaying the dragon by the 6th Friern Barnet Cub Group, although the Ash crisis from the week before meant they only had one of the three actors due to play the dragon in the country.

Maureen Maynard, a parade advisor, says she was happy with how things went.

She said: “We were worried when we saw the weather on Sunday morning with all the rain, but by the time the parade started it was bright sunshine, so we were very relieved.

“The Mayor of Barnet Brian Coleman also came and spoke at the ceremony and he told us the Scouts are the biggest youth organisation in Britain.”