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Liverpool Giants: Huge crowds turn out in city centre and Wirral Liverpool Giants: Huge crowds turn out in city centre and Wirral
(about 2 hours later)
Huge crowds are lining the streets of Liverpool as The Giants visit the city for a third and final time. Thousands of spectators are lining Liverpool's streets as huge puppets stride through the city in a street theatre festival.
Royal de Luxe's huge puppets are making their way through the city centre as well as appearing across the Mersey in Wirral. Known as The Giants, the over-sized marionettes have returned for a third and final time.
Previous visits by the French street theatre company's Giants in 2012 and 2014 drew six-figure audiences. Previous visits in 2012 and 2014 attracted six-figure audiences and led to millions of pounds spent locally.
The action started at 10:00 BST at St George's Hall. A giant puppet also appeared at Fort Perch Rock, Wirral. One spectator Lewis, 10, who was watching at St George's Plateau, said: "It was epic! Mind blown!"
Hundreds queued to see one of the marionettes - Little Boy Giant - "sleeping" in a hammock at St George's Hall on Thursday. Two of the puppets - Little Boy Giant and his dog Xolo - "woke up" before setting off for a stroll through the city centre on Friday morning, watched by thousands of people.
The puppets can be seen in various locations until Sunday. After an afternoon nap in Princes Park in Toxteth, they will return to the city centre for further events this evening and until Sunday.
Unlike previous visits, though, the marionettes will take in some Wirral landmarks in addition to Liverpool city centre. Another puppet appeared on the other side of the River Mersey in Wirral.
This year's opening echoes Royal de Luxe's previous event in 2014 when a grandmother puppet was asleep in the hall. On Thursday, hundreds queued to see Little Boy Giant "sleeping" in a hammock at St George's Hall.
To whet the public's appetite this year, one of the Little Boy Giant's sandals appeared in Prince's Park. At the scene - Rumeana Jahangir, BBC News
At the scene Liverpool - Rumeana Jahangir, BBC News
There's something about the Giants that brings out the child in you, whatever your age.There's something about the Giants that brings out the child in you, whatever your age.
When the live music struck up to signal that Little Boy Giant was about to wake up, gasps and cheers spread through the hundreds lined up outside St George's Hall. When the live music struck up to signal that Little Boy Giant was about to wake up, gasps and cheers rippled through the hundreds lined up outside St George's Hall.
Magical, mesmerising and epic were words used as the city welcomed back the much-loved marionettes for the final time.Magical, mesmerising and epic were words used as the city welcomed back the much-loved marionettes for the final time.
While the Giants head up to Princes Park for the afternoon, there are a lot of smiles spread over the faces of those who were saw them stroll past this morning. While the Giants rest at Princes Park this afternoon, there are a lot of smiles spread over the faces of those who saw them stroll past this morning.
It was used as a goalpost during a football coaching session for hundreds of schoolchildren. Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers were all involved in the event. One of the Little Boy Giant's sandals was used as a goalpost during a football coaching session for schoolchildren at Princes Park, in an event involving Merseyside clubs Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers.
Meanwhile, a giant raft has appeared at Canning Dock in Liverpool and a huge butter knife has split a bus in two outside Lime Street Station. A huge butter knife that appears to have split a bus in two outside Lime Street Station and a large fork in a car roof outside St Luke's Church wowed many passer-bys.
Once again the Giants have wowed the crowd. Meanwhile, a giant raft appeared at Canning Dock on Liverpool's waterfront.
Lewis, 10, from Millbrook primary school, Kirby, said: "It was epic! Mind blown!" The spectacle has been arranged by French street theatre company Royal de Luxe.
Angela Samara and Helen Bishton, who were collecting for mental health org Chasing the Stigma one of two official charities were delighted. Angela Samara and Helen Bishton, who were collecting for mental health organisation Chasing the Stigma - one of the event's two official charities - were thrilled.
"We thought it was absolutely mesmerising, said Angela. "We thought it was absolutely mesmerising," said Ms Samara.
"It was a magical moment when Xolo went and met the boy. You forget instantly that they're puppets and it's an absolute privilege to watch.""It was a magical moment when Xolo went and met the boy. You forget instantly that they're puppets and it's an absolute privilege to watch."
Organisers said it was part of the artistic vision for The Giants event - and there is also a giant fork going through a car in the city too.
On the beachOn the beach
Sean Styles, BBC Radio MerseysideSean Styles, BBC Radio Merseyside
Thousands of people gathered on New Brighton Beach after a sleeping Giant appeared overnight.Thousands of people gathered on New Brighton Beach after a sleeping Giant appeared overnight.
As the sun came up the Giant awoke and was raised up from the shadow of the turrets at Fort Perch Rock. As the sun came up, the Giant awoke and was raised up in the shadow of the turrets at Fort Perch Rock.
While a brass band played the crowd was transfixed as the huge figure was lifted from the sands. While a brass band played, the crowd was transfixed as the huge figure was lifted from the sands.
Children watched on with open mouths at this incredible sight on the Wirral coastline.Children watched on with open mouths at this incredible sight on the Wirral coastline.