The quirky Gloucestershire tradition of Randwick Wap celebrated its 50th anniversary this Saturday with a colourful precession.

It's a revived ancient festival that had been banned in the 19th century when it had descended into drunken debauchery. In 1972 though it was reinstated and has become an annual favourite since then.

The footage filmed on May 7 shows a costumed procession where the Wap mayor and queen are carried through the village in southwest England accompanied by various officials who "anoint" them twice - once at the start of the procession and once at the end in the so-called mayors pool.

Randwick Wap is believed to date back to medieval times but was banned in the nineteenth century as it had descended into drunken debauchery. It was reinstated in 1972 by former vicar, Rev Nial Morrison and has been an annual favourite since then. The word ‘Wap’ dates back to Saxon times and could be an abbreviation for ‘wapenshaw’, or show of weapons, to check that the community could defend itself.
Each year villagers vote for the Wap mayor and queen, who are carried at shoulder height through the village, and the outgoing title holders 'anoint' the incomers with water - twice - once at the start of the parade and again in the Mayor's Pool.