SOLDIERS were on parade and their regimental silverware was on display at the weekend as the 21st year of Ripon Festival got under way.

The annual Ripon Weekend celebrations, which signal the start of a series of festival events over the summer months, began over the weekend with concerts by the band of the Corps of Royal Engineers, in the cathedral and in the market square.

The main event of the weekend saw the regiment, accompanied by the band and the Ripon district branch of the Royal Engineers Association, march through the city for the mayor's installation service at the cathedral.

A new Royal Engineers Association national standard was dedicated at the service.

Members of the Brownies, Guides, Scouts and Army and air cadets then joined a full parade back to the market square.

The Ripon Weekend revolves around the freedom given to the Royal Engineers in 1949 to march through the city on ceremonial occasions.

Ripon Festival chairman Bernard Bateman said: "It is very fitting that the festival programme in its 21st year should get under way with the Royal Engineers, to whom our city owes so much for all they have contributed to its life and economic regeneration.

"We have a very full programme of events for 2006 being organised by the many organisations in our city."