A GIANT peacock, funny nuns and a two-gun salute marked the start of the Worcester Festival.

The fourth annual festival kicked off on Saturday.

Shoppers might have noticed two amusing nuns causing a stir outside the Guildhall or caught a glimpse of Sir Lupin of Pipwithers, the mediaeval stilt walker, searching for his horse. They probably also heard the Territorial Army 214 Battery gun salute that officially opened the festivities.

Percy the Peacock, the Worcester Festival mascot, also made an appearance.

For the next two weeks free entertainment and innovative street theatre is taking place outside the Guildhall, on a CrownGate stage, in Cathedral Plaza and outside Huntingdon Hall, as well as up and down the main shopping streets.

Outside the Guildhall today will be the Claptrap Theatre Company, and on the CrownGate Live stage in Bell Square shoppers can stop and listen to live music from folk duo Ouja and blues folk band Joint Offering.

For the next fortnight the stage within the shopping centre will showcase some up and coming local talent.

Acts that will grace the CrownGate stage include electric fiddler Caroline Lucas, the busking Billington Family, jazz duo Smithsodeon and comedy group Spanner.

Adventurous types can head to at Cathedral Plaza on Saturday and experience life like an astronaut. Spaceball, which was at Angel Place on Saturday, is a unique ride for all ages that gives the thrilling feel of zero gravity.