May Day celebrations across the South

A record 25 000 people were up in the early hours to celebrate the traditional May Day celebrations in Oxford.

They gathered outside Magdalen College to hear choristers sing from the top of the Great Tower, before continuing the celebrations through the streets of the city, and on to the Bodleian library.

Here's our montage of the best moments.

Beltain celebrations have been taking place across the south, with wicker men being burned in spectacular fashion.

At Butser Hill near Petersfield in Hampshire, a 30 foot effigy was burned as the sun set last night, to welcome in the season of renewal and fertility.

Across the south, morris dancers and maypole dancers are joining the celebrations.

At Westerham in Kent, they'll be 'Beating the Bounds', complete with dancing around a newly-instated maypole on the green.

Twitter has been alive with May Day messages, explaining the significance of the festival in the Pagan calendar. With some racier postings too!

Happy May Day everyone!

May Day celebrations have been taking place across the south, even though the temperature still feels like March!

A record crowd of 25,000 turned out for the traditional celebrations in Oxford.

A choir sang at the top of Magdalen College tower, and many people stayed up all night to see in the morning.

There were signs up on Magdalen Bridge to prevent people jumping into the river, and organisers say the event has been a great success.

Meanwhile the ancient festival of Baltain has been celebrated across the region.

At Butser Hill in Hampshire, a giant wicker man was burnt as part of the annual celebrations, which take place to welcome in the Spring.