Locals and tourists offered thousands of lanterns as they began an annual water basket festival in northeast Thailand.

Colourful lanterns illuminated Khon Kaen province as the three-day Buddhist Loy Krathong Festival was launched on November 3.

Footage shows dancers in traditional costumes performing on the streets lined with glowing lanterns overhead.

A solemn procession was also held as a tribute to the late 'Queen Mother' Sirikit, whose death was announced on October 24.

The festivities are more muted this year in line with a government directive to tone down parties.

The festival, themed 'Rivers, Blood, and Tribes' to show unity among Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and India, was expected to draw more than 300,000 attendees and generate a revenue of 700 million baht (16 million GBP), local authorities said.

Loy Krathong is a traditional Thai festival celebrated on the full moon night of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, usually in November. The festival is known for its beautiful and symbolic practice of releasing floating lanterns and krathongs - small, decorated floating vessels made from banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense - onto rivers, canals, or other bodies of water.

(1 GBP = 42.59 THB)