THE new Bletchingley May Queen was crowned on Saturday, continuing a tradition spanning six decades.
Residents of the village turned out in force to support this year's May Queen parade, which began at Overdale and on to the High Street.
And this year it was the turn of 12-year-old Mya Thomas to take centre stage as she was crowned May Queen at the 65th festival.
Mya's mum, Jennie Bye, said: "It went well and the girls all felt very special.
"Mya enjoyed her special crowning day, especially with all the support showed on the day from the village's residents – particularly at Overdale."
The Reverend Neil Roberts welcomed the parade at St Mary the Virgin Church, in Church Lane, with a blessing and Mya was then officially crowned.
Ms Bye, of Albury Road in South Merstham, added: "We had a wonderful service by Rev Neil Roberts in the church."
Mya has been part of the Bletchingley May Queen group since she was four years old when her family used to live in the village and she went to St Catherine's Primary School, in Coneybury.
Now at Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Reigate, Mya has made the effort every year, for the last eight years, to attend the procession.
After the parade, the girls went on a walkabout around the village, paying tribute at the war memorial and presenting flowers to the elderly residents of the village.
The parade members then braved the elements and headed in convoy in cars to the London and Merrie England May Queen festival on Hayes Common in Kent.
Ms Bye said: "We had a different but highly fun afternoon in the rain, where the girls kept smiling and got to see the actual crowning of the London May Queen in the church."
