CROWDS lined Church Street to see the mayor, mayoress and deputy mayor throw kitchels from a window as part of Harwich’s traditional mayor-making ceremony.

Last Thursday marked the day when Alan and Sylvia Todd became the new mayor and mayoress of Harwich.

After the mayor-making ceremony at St Nicholas’ Church, the pair made their way to the Guildhall where they threw sweet buns – known as kitchels – from a window to waiting children below.

About 150 people, including school pupils watched the kitchel-throwing.

The unique Harwich tradition of kitchel-throwing has been taking place for more than 400 years.

Ivan Henderson, deputy mayor, said: “It was a really enjoyable day and a proud day for everyone involved.

“Being deputy mayor is not something I have done before, but I am getting into the hang of it.”

Due to a cruise ship arriving into the port, there were many tourists who came into the town and had the chance to see the mayor-making.

Ivan added: “We had a lot of tourists off the cruise ship visit us, so it could not have been a better day to hold mayor-making on."