Animals and large birds invaded the centre of York as the city’s student community staged the annual University of York Rag Parade.

Shoppers and tourists watched bemused as two-legged pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens and other farm and wild animals marched to Parliament Street where they staged a musical rally.

The cheers from the fancy dress parade were accompanied by the chink and rattle of coins in collecting buckets.

The event was the highlight of a week of fundraising by more than 2,000 students at the University of York for The Sick Children’s Trust, York University Student Union (YUSU) Volunteering, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Water Aid, Medicine sans Frontieres and the Independent Domestic Abuse Services.

Kallum Taylor, president of YUSU, revealed after the parade that with some events yet to be held, the week had raised more than £8,000, and the students were likely to hit their record-breaking target of raising £300,000 throughout this academic year for charity.

“It has been great fun, quite inspiring and all for great causes,” he said of Rag Week.