The most inventive and colourful entries in this year's Lord Mayor's Procession received their prizes yesterday at City Hall.

Lord Mayor Ralph Gayton handed out cash prizes and certificates to those schools, clubs and organisations whose efforts stood out from the rest at this year's street procession.

Mr Gayton said the procession had been 'a superb weekend, and one that will live a long, long time in my memory'.

He added: 'The enthusiasm you felt from the people who took part and the sense of expectation from the crowd, and the way they enjoyed it, really made this year stand out. The ingenuity that went into the floats this year was quite impressive.'

The overall winner was the Norwich Community West Schools Cluster, made up of 13 schools and headed by City Academy Norwich, for its float – a take on an 'ugly bug ball' with an Olympic theme. It also had a giant flea high jumping over a bar, helping to earn the �300 top prize.

Community events coordinator for the cluster, Lucy White, said: 'Children from all the 13 schools contributed in some way. Parents worked really hard as well, and the teachers supported them, which is normally the other way around, this really brought us all together.'

The total raised from the procession was announced yesterday, as �3,676.19.

Second place and �200 for the procession went to Angel Road Junior and Infant Schools, who put on a multi-cultural celebration including a Trinidad-style steel drum band and striking Olympic theme costumes incorporating medals, togas, and gold hats bearing the Olympic rings.

Music coordinator for the Angel Road schools, Sue Graham, said: 'This was a really good opportunity for us to liaise with people as children and parents from both schools worked really hard on it.

'The children not only dressed up, but played the drums constantly, which is no mean feat. They were really over the moon, a ripple of excitement went through both schools when we heard.'

Third place went to Peapod Pre-School, in Milford Road, who won �150 for a float which showcased the Olympics in its own style, with balloons, banners, flowers, adults in togas and children in pea-pod costumes.

There were three runners-up, charities Future Projects and Down's Syndrome Norfolk plus gas company Gasway – which teamed up with electric company Heatrae Sadia and will be donating its prize money to Cancer Research UK – with each receiving �100.

The judging panel included former traffic police officer Colin Page, Radio Norfolk's Becky Betts, David Walker from Norwich Charitable Trusts, Richard Renwick of the UK Centre for Carnival Arts and Carole Slaughter, marketing manager at Jarrold.

Prizes were also handed out for the Great Norwich Duck Race, which organisers the 1st Norwich Sea Scout Group say has raised more than �19,000 in its three years.