TWO of Southampton's most ancient ceremonies were completed in time-honoured fashion yesterday.

Southampton sheriff Councillor Edwina Cooke "beat the bounds" of the city before presiding over the Court Leet, which dates from medieval times.

The ancient ceremony was held at the Civic Centre in front of members of a "jury" composed of the city's honorary aldermen, past mayors and sheriffs and presided over by the current sheriff, Cllr Cooke.

Jury members heard concerns raised by citizens of Southampton over public drinking in city centre parks, as well as a "presentment" by the chairman of Southampton's Commons and Parks Protection Society, Arthur Jeffery, on the waterlogged area around Hum Hole near the Bitterne bypass.

Mr Jeffery also told members of the jury that the council should clarify outstanding issues surrounding historic rights of way in the city.

In all, 14 presentments were accepted by the ancient court, which has sat since the 14th century.

Earlier, Cllr Cooke was joined by children from Shirley Warren School to beat the bounds.

Youngsters accompanied the sheriff on a tour of the city's ancient boundary and beat down the grass at Peartree Avenue and the Alford Memorial in Mayflower Park before arriving back at the Bargate.