Punch and Judy shows have always been a traditional piece of Britiain's seaside entertainment - and were an integral part of this year's Bedford By The Sea event.

Since being imported into England around 1662, Punch and Judy has been entertaining children and adults alike, with its range of slapstick comedy, audience participation and, of course, sausages.

The traditional show has undergone a number of changes over the years, as Britain's last remaining touring Punch and Judy performer, Tony James, told the Times & Citizen and Bedford Today.

He said: "The Georgian shows used to have far more characters in them, but over the years they fell by the wayside.

"The Victorians then removed the devil from the show to make it a bit more suitable for audiences at that time.

"Children love it because it is full of action and it's silly and adults like it because it reminds them of their childhood and keeps the little ones quiet."

The puppets used by Mr James at this year's Bedford By The Sea date from the 1930s, and he has toured across Europe with them as well as the whole of the UK.