Oh Ye Oh Ye Oh Ye - gather round for Ely’s finest and most fantastic Eel festival - Oh Ye Oh Ye Oh Ye - thousands attend -Oh Ye Oh Ye Oh Ye

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

The weather helped, the meticulous planning was important, and the stuffed toy eels of course quite essential but ultimately Ely’s annual Eel Ely’s festivities rely on people.

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

And they came in their thousands throughout a Bank Holiday that kicked off on Friday with businesses taking part in eel throwing through to Sunday and Monday with a glorious food and drink festival.

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Town crier Avril Hayter Smith welcomed town criers from across the UK on Saturday and, to the enjoyment of many and puzzlement of others, took part in the annual championships by the river.

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Our photographic round-up includes of course a photo of Jane Devonshire, the first of two celebrity chefs to attract an audience with a cookery demonstration at the two days given over to food and drink.

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Jane, a Master Chef winner, found herself looking out on a festival with more stalls than ever, huge crowds and, in the words of Mike Rouse who took our photos, “a simply amazing event with great family atmosphere”.

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Parades, town criers, Jubilee Garden festivities, and a glorious food and drink festival. Ely's four day festival was a fantastic success. PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)