In pictures: The Twelfth

Bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland on the "11th night" ahead of the 12 July parades.

These Protestant Orangemen at a parade in Belfast are just some of the thousands who march each year on 12 July. Traditional banners were adorned with black ribbons as a mark of respect for those killed in the London bombings.

In Londonderry, Orangemen marched on the city's west bank for the first time in 13 years after a deal with the Bogside Residents' Group was brokered.

In north Belfast, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and party colleague Alex Maskey attended a sit-down protest objecting to the march passing through the nationalist Ardoyne area.

Making an appearance for the first time in 50 years were these Lambeg drums. In the past, they were thought to slow the parade down too much, but mounted on this Ulster Scots Agency float, they could keep pace with the rest

No drums sounded as the parade arrived at Belfast City Hall, where there was a pause for remembrance at the Cenotaph.

Many spectators dressed up especially for the occasion, enjoying the sunshine and high temperatures.

Spectators lined the route of the parade through Belfast as marchers made their way towards demonstrations to hear speeches from Orange Order leaders.

This mascot was attached to the front of a car driving along in the parade.