More than 9,000 people packed Oxford's High Street in early morning sunshine for the city's traditional May Day celebrations. High-spirited students, some in evening wear or masks from all-night balls, mixed with local revellers, tourists, and families wrapped up against the morning chill.

For the first time in four years, revellers were also allowed on to Magdalen Bridge to listen to Magdalen College Choir singing from the top of the 144ft bell tower.

There were fears revellers would celebrate the event in age-old style by jumping into the River Cherwell, but barriers erected along the bridge by Oxfordshire County Council ensured most students kept their feet dry.

Only three people -- one wearing a wetsuit -- waded into the icy water, to the amusement of onlookers. The crowd hushed at the stroke of 6am for the traditional May morning hymns, before a peal of bells heralded more live music and dancing, at street level.

The bridge had been closed on May Morning since 1998 to stop people injuring themselves, but was allowed to open following the completion of strengthening work on the parapets. It was done to stop the bridge collapsing under the weight of people.

Despite the sunshine, numbers were down on previous years, and coffee replaced Champagne as the drink of choice.

Survivors of all-night masked-balls fought off hangovers with bacon sandwiches and pastries bought at cafes along High Street, while early risers packed coffee shops and bars.

Paul Garver, a second-year student at St Edmund Hall, said: "I always wear a dressing gown at this time of the morning, so decided to cycle down with it on."

Myrtle Vincent, a volunteer for Save the Children, was selling posies of fresh flowers to revellers, as she has done for the past 15 years. She admitted she was as much a May morning tradition as the Magdalen tower choristers. She said: "Not having the police barriers up was a great improvement. People felt free and enjoyed themselves more."

Insp Justin Archer, of Thames Valley Police, said: "There was a very large crowd, which was very good natured. Everything went according to plan."

There were no reports of arrests.

Dozens of Morris dancers from across the county descended on Radcliffe Square. The Rev Duncan McLaren, 33, the college chaplain at St Edmund Hall, and his five-year-old son Alexander, were among the spectators watching the Morris dancing beneath The Bridge of Sighs.

The pair had ridden from their home in Lawrence Road on a tandem, decked out in ivy. Mr McLaren said: "It is great. The weather is lovely and there is a good atmosphere.

"I come down every year. It is all about welcoming the summer after the long, cold winter, and there is an enormous sense of tradition. I like to make an occasion of it.

Dancer Katie Moss, from Bletchingdon, a member of the all-women Rogue Morris dancers, said: "It's fun, it's traditional, and it's been going on for centuries. It's the only time of year I get up at this time of the morning, but it is well worth it."