The Twelfth of July celebrations in Londonderry were hailed as a great success despite a handful of minor incidents which occurred in the city on the return march.

Orangemen were spat on by some members of the public as they passed by the Richmond Centre and had several beer cans and bottles hurled in their direction as the final three bands and around 150 Orangemen wrapped up proceedings.

City Grand Treasurer William Wray played down the incidents and described the demonstration as very peaceful on the whole.

“It was a very successful day”, he said.

“We had great weather for the parade and despite a couple of small scuffles on the return leg it all passed off very peacefully.”

He continued: “The event took nearly two years to put together so its success comes as a welcome relief to all involved.”

The Orange Order has tried hard in recent times to rebrand the Twelfth as a family festival with the potential to increase tourism for the province, and Mr Wray said he was happy to see that this tactic seemed to have worked in Derry.

He said: “I was talking to a Dutch couple who were having a great time, and an American couple who were delighted to be here, saying that they couldn't have envisioned visiting the city at this time of year in the past. So, in that sense, today has been very promising.”

The City of Londonderry Grand Lodge celebrated its 175th anniversary this year and led the procession from Bond Street in the morning sun.

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An estimated 3,500 participants and 4,000 revellers lined the streets as the procession made its way across the Craigavon Bridge en route to Wilton Park via Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, the Diamond, Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street and Wapping Lane, before returning across the bridge and progressing along Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, Bonds Street, May Street and Limavady Road.

Eight districts took part in this year’s parade, three from the City of Londonderry, along with Coleraine, Macosquin, Limavady, Cumber and Claudy from Raphoe in Co Donegal.

Upon arrival at Wilton Park a religious service was held with The Reverend Mervyn Lyndsay leading the sermon.

The City Grand Master Victor Wray also thanked everyone for “filling the field” and welcomed everyone to next year’s celebrations in Portrush, before the procession made its way home.