Around 80 people gathered under grey skies to follow a wooden cross through Dereham town centre for traditional Good Friday march of witness.

Members of Dereham's Christian groups united for a service at the Salvation Army building in the town before starting the march with a reading and prayer in the Queen Mother's Garden.

The group, of all ages from toddlers to pensioners, stopped traffic and attracted glances ranging from the quizzical to the respectful during the 30min procession.

They paused at St Nicholas Dereham, outside the post office and in the market place for prayers and readings, before gathering to sing hymns including The Old Rugged Cross and Near the Cross in Nelson Place Precinct.

Rev Adrian Aubrey-Jones said: 'I think it's a reminder of the walk that Jesus did and it shows people watching what's happening.'

Baptist minister Chris Densham said: 'I think for us Easter is the most significant of the Christian festivals because of the death and resurrection of Jesus – everything changed as a result of it.

'Doing this march in the middle of the town with everyone doing their business – the original Good Friday would have been like that with Jesus carrying the cross and nobody being aware of it, as it is today.

'I think increasingly for the younger generation it has no significance at all because they don't know the story. But I think it will prompt people who have some kind of Christian background.'