Order was definitely in short supply as Baroness Betty Boothroyd sat at the top table for this year's Colchester Oyster Feast.

Baroness Boothroyd, former Bluebell girl and Speaker of the House of Commons, would have done well to calm the boisterous nature of the 300 or so invited by this year's mayor Mike Hogg for the centuries-old event.

Among those were Colcestrians such as doctors, nurses, charity and community workers, in a break with tradition. Mr Hogg said: "You are what makes Colchester special."

This year's speakers included Lord Phillips of Sudbury and writer and broadcaster Richard Spendlove, who co-created the BBC television sitcom Oh, Dr Beeching.

Lord Phillips, despite hailing from Suffolk, endeared himself to the crowd by calling the occasion "the great" and "magnificent".

One person who could not make it was "The Man in the White Suit" Martin Bell, who was listed in the afternoon's programme as a speaker. But according to his replacement Lord Phillips, he was urgently called away to Afghanistan.

The third speaker, George Courtauld, High Sheriff of Essex, the Queen's Messenger and native of Greenstead Green, near Halstead, chose this moment to announce something many Colcestrians were eager to hear.

Mr Courtauld, rounding off his entertaining tales of visiting Outer Mongolia and other places, called Colchester a city.

But he hastily corrected himself amid much jeering and cheering from the crowds.

Meanwhile, Colchester pensioners enjoyed a hearty meal courtesy of the Labour Party in Colchester at the alternative oyster feast.