Mr Men and Little Misses, pirates and a terrifying dragon all swarmed into New Malden High Street on July 4 as the town celebrated the silver jubilee of the annual Malden Fortnight festival.

The popular parade passed off its 25th anniversary in style on Saturday, as crowds flocked to see the TV character-themed costumes and listen to the sounds of Kingston and Malden scout and guide band as they travelled up the High Street.

Moving from Woodside Road to the Fountain pub and back again, the protaganists helped kick off two weeks of exciting activities happening around the borough.

The party continued all afternoon at the Fountain with Korean music, salsa dance and the Dave Merrion jazz orchestra, while Malden and Coombe Horticultural Society showed off their flower arranging skills in the Malden Centre’s Rose Room.

A total of 21 events are running throughout the town until July 17 as part of the festival, including the ever popular craft fair in the High Street on July 11 and canine capers at the dog show on July 12.

The town celebrates its Asian links on Saturday, July 11, when the Korean Food Festival hits town, with exotic food and the more familiar barbecue on offer at the Fountain between 10.45am and 7pm.

Fortnight festivities wind up with a memory-swapping session at the Malden Emergency First Aid Society, next to the Malden Centre, on July 16, with residents asked to tell their stories of the town’s changes in the past 100 years.

More information and a full run down of events is available online at maldenfortnight.co.uk.

For more of what’s on, go to our Events section