Mancunians strut down huge yellow catwalk for opening event of Manchester International Festival

Jeremy Deller's Manchester International Festival opening event ran last night in the centre of the city.

What Is The City But the People? involved 150 people from Manchester who walked down a 100 metre runway in Piccadilly Gardens.

The event was created from an original idea by Deller and directed by Richard Gregory. Participants – selected from across Manchester – ranged from local beekepers to drag queens to cleaning attendants to junior doctors. Mancunians Lemn Sissay and Happy Monday's Bez also walked the catwalk.

Several taxi drivers who helped people after the Manchester bomb were also invited to walk down the runway.

The bright yellow runway was intended as a celebration of Manchester and had live music from Graham Massey.

Manchester International Festival runs at various venues across the city until 16 July.

Watch Richard Gregory on the event here