HUNDREDS of York primary school children turned out to greet the city’s Lord Mayor as she went on an inspection of the historic bar walls.

About 300 pupils from St Wilfrid’s RC School and St Barnabas CE School lined Lord Mayor’s Walk, to meet the Lord Mayor, Coun Sue Galloway, waving their own hand-made daffodils as the civic party passed.

It was the first time since 1730 that the civic party joined the Lord Mayor on a procession of the city’s walls and Lord Mayor’s Walk.

Friends Of York Walls – a group established earlier this year to promote York’s walls – organised the event to thank Coun Galloway, who is a patron of their organisation.

During the proceedings, Keith Myers, from the Friends, presented the Lord Mayor with an official scroll of thanks.

The Friends of York Walls is a voluntary group set up to represent the interests of York’s historical centrepiece, including defences such as St Mary’s Abbey, Clifford’s Tower and The Castle, as well as the Bar Walls.

It aims to promote, manage and develop all York Walls for the benefit of local residents and visitors. The group is also keen to establish the walls as a major worldwide visitor attraction.