Sheep drive on London Bridge in aid of Lord Mayor’s Appeal

Friday's large-scale event followed last month's early-morning stunt by Amanda Cottrell to promote the Save Canterbury Cathedral campaign and Produced in Kent.

The event was organised by the Worshipful Company of World Traders in aid of the Lord Mayor's Appeal. This year's Lord Mayor of London, David Lewis, is raising money for flying eye hospital Orbis and Wellbeing for Women.

The sheep and freemen were blessed by Revd Bertrand Olivier, chaplain to the World Traders company and vicar of All Hallows by the Tower, before the Lord Mayor cut a ribbon to mark the start of the event.

On each crossing of the bridge the Romney sheep were escorted by a drummer, pikemen and musketeers.

Each sheep had a handler from Hadlow College and the freemen, who had each paid at least £50 for the privilege of taking part in the event, took it in turns to lead the sheep a short distance over part of the bridge.