The centre of Newtown came to a standstill as actors in costume led a march by a number of Christian organisations to mark Good Friday and the crucifixion of Christ.

Shoppers and visitors stopped in their tracks and town centre motorists slowed down to watch the dramatic procession make its way yesterday along Broad Street towards The Cross.

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An actor depicting Jesus Christ was accompanied by Roman centurions.

Other actors depicting the Virgin Mary, Pontius Pilate and Jesus’s disciples also took part in the March of Witness ceremony which was aimed at raising awareness of the true meaning of Easter.

The actors were members of the congregation at Newtown’s Hope Community Church.

The event had been organised by Churches Together in Newtown (CYTUN) and allowed worshippers of various congregations in the town to mark Good Friday together.

The CYTUN organisation incorporates the Methodist, Baptist, United Reform, Church in Wales, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army and Pentecostal Churches in Newtown.

Before the procession began yesterday, a united church service was held at Newtown’s Methodist Church in Back Lane.

Following that service the march, watched by hundreds of people, left the church and followed the route of Broad Street to The Cross with its junction with High Street.

The marchers stopped and witnessed the actor portraying Jesus Christ being raised on the cross.

The worshippers then took part in the singing of communal hymns and scripture readings.

The Reverend Alan Hewitt, from Hope Community Church, said the procession had brought the town to a standstill.

He said: “It was very dramatic and powerful. The whole town centre stopped. We had between 200 and 300 people take part in the actual march and this was the best year ever.

“People were filming the procession and Christ being raised on the cross on their mobile phones and it had a very big impact.

“We have no problem with eggs and bunnies and holidays at Easter but we also want to get the true message of Easter out to the public and I think this event did just that.”

By Iain St John