Cries of ‘bread or blood!’ rang through the streets of Littleport as hundreds of pupils from Littleport Community Primary School marched through the town to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Bread Riots.

Pupils from the school recreated the scenes from the infamous riots by dressing up and taking to the streets of Littleport on Friday May 27.

The groups set off from the site of former pub The Globe – where dozens of angry residents gathered to discuss the raising prices of grain before rioting 200 years ago – before making their way through the town and finishing at St. George’s church.

The groups - led by trustees of Adam’s Heritage Centre, Grenville Goodson and councillor Deborah Jordan – punched the air and chanted ‘bread or blood’ as they were guided through the town and shown where many of the rioters lived and worked.

The youngsters were also shown an exhibition inside the Heritage Centre organised by the Field Theatre Group, which detailed the events before, during and after the riots, including the subsequent trials and hanging of William Beamiss, George Crow, John Dennis, Isaac Harley and Thomas South.

Cllr Jordan says that the riots form an important part of Littleport life. She said: “The history of the riots is fascinating and it’s the biggest thing relating to history in Littleport.

“The events we’ve had here have been brilliant; we’ve had descendants of some of the rioters come along – even one from New Zealand.

“It’s taken months of research into the court trials and it took about a week to put the exhibition together.”

The town is to conclude its commemoration of the riots by holding a memorial walk and service for those who were executed on Saturday June 25.