Falmouth, St Piran's Day Parade pictures and video

The parade was led by the mayor of Falmouth Steve Eva and his wife Vicky (Image: Jory Mundy)

Schools formed up for the start of the St Piran's Day parade on the Moor before parading to Prince of Wales Pier then up the main drag to King Charle's the Martyr Church for a special service.

Little St Piran's (Image: Jory Mundy)

They were joined by members of their families and the public carrying Cornish flags and singing Trelaweny.

The parade was led by the town's mayor Cllr Steve Eva and his wife Vicky and the brass band from Falmouth School playing Trelawney.

Flying the flag (Image: Jory Munday)

The day, which was actually yesterday March 5, is the national day of Cornwall, a tradition inspired by the legend of St Piran.

St Piran was the patron saint of tin and the holiday began as a celebration observed only by tin miners.

Even the youngest joined in (Image: Jory Mundy)

Legend tells of Piran’s arrival in Cornwall from Ireland during the 5th century.

After a disagreement with King Aengus of Munster, Piran was tied to a millstone and thrown off the Irish cliffs into a stormy sea.

The parade turns on Prince of Wales Pier (Image: Jory Mundy)

The sea became calm and the millstone miraculously floated and brought him to Cornwall, where he washed up on Perranporth beach.

He spoke only Irish and the locals spoke only Cornish but he still gathered disciples. A badger, a fox and a boar were his first disciples, according to legend.

The Falmouth School Band wait for their cue (Image: Jory Mundy)

Penhale Sands is believed to be the original landing site of Saint Piran.

Dating back to the 6th century, St Piran's Oratory is also thought to be one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain.

Cornish flags in the parade (Image: Jory Mundy)

The remains were discovered in the late 18th century, and in 2014 the covering sand was removed to reveal a building more than a thousand years old, in a reasonable state of preservation.