Bury St Edmunds was transformed from the 21st Century to the 1st Century this morning as vast crowds were left captivated by a vivid re-enactment of Jesus’s crucifixion.

Thousands of people followed this year’s passion play right through the heart of the town, with spectators treated to a brutal yet brilliant rendition of the events behind Easter celebrations.

Romans dressed in full costume arrested the show’s star at St Edmundsbury Cathedral before marching their way up through the town to a trial in front of Pontius Pilate at The Arc shopping centre.

Having declared Jesus guilty, the play’s final act saw a crucifixion take place in the Abbey Gardens.

Producer Revd Jonathan Ford is a minister at Christ Church on Moreton Hall, and played a Roman centurion in the production.

He said: “The church has felt that, in one sense, the church has lost Christmas - ergo, we must not lose Easter, which is even more important.

“It’s celebrating what Christ has done on the cross, it’s showing that faith means so much to us, and also doing it in the centre of the town, as the town was originally set aside as a place of worship, is all part of bringing that together.”