Undeterred by wind and rain, they came in their hundreds from all over the diocese for the annual St Albans Easter Monday Pilgrimage.

Young and old walked to St Albans Cathedral from all corners of the diocese, some dodging felled trees on the way, and even braved the damp conditions to sit down in the Abbey Orchard for refreshments. There was no shortage of four-legged friends accompanying the pilgrims as well

The pilgrims were rewarded with games at 1pm, a service at 3pm and cathedral organist Nicholas Freestone reprising his tribute to David Bowie by playing Life on Mars.

TV crews were at the Abbey for a live BBC broadcast of the Easter service and to record the pilgrimage.

Canon Tim Bull, chair of the Easter Monday Pilgrimage, said: “Despite the weather, we seemed to have had more pilgrims than the previous year. The logistics all went very smoothly both outside and inside and it was good to have all three bishops in the Orchard greeting people beforehand.

“The Sub-Dean’s warm-up was spot-on: clear, helpful and amusing. Bishop Alan led the service with a good balance of joyfulness and holiness and having the BBC added to the sense of occasion.

“Thanks to all who braved Storm Katie, including mud, hail and snow to get here to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.”