EIGHT hundred in-line skaters descended on Southampton at the weekend for the fourth annual Euroblade event.

The streets of the city were closed to traffic yesterday morning as the hordes of English and French 'bladers' skated their way around the city centre, starting from St Mary's Stadium in Northam.

During the ten-mile course around the city skaters took in sights including Central parks, the Bargate, Southampton Common and Ocean Village.

The event, which is a collaboration between Southampton City Council and its twin French city of Le Havre, was described by organisers as the best yet.

"We managed to keep the skaters together better than in past years and we had music on the skate which really livened things up," said Craig Lintott, specialist events organiser for the city council.

"It was a well-attended, good-natured event and everyone had a great time skating round the city."