Video caption Liverpool giants: Crowds watch puppets take to street

Thousands of spectators are lining Liverpool's streets as huge puppets stride through the city in a street theatre festival.

Known as The Giants, the over-sized marionettes have returned for a third and final time.

Previous visits in 2012 and 2014 attracted six-figure audiences and led to millions of pounds spent locally.

One spectator Lewis, 10, who was watching at St George's Plateau, said: "It was epic! Mind blown!"

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Two of the puppets - Little Boy Giant and his dog Xolo - "woke up" before setting off for a stroll through the city centre on Friday morning, watched by thousands of people.

After an afternoon nap in Princes Park in Toxteth, they will return to the city centre for further events this evening and until Sunday.

Another puppet appeared on the other side of the River Mersey in Wirral.

On Thursday, hundreds queued to see Little Boy Giant "sleeping" in a hammock at St George's Hall.

Video caption Liverpool giants: Dog Xolo goes for surprise walkies

At the scene - Rumeana Jahangir, BBC News

There's something about the Giants that brings out the child in you, whatever your age.

When the live music struck up to signal that Little Boy Giant was about to wake up, gasps and cheers rippled through the hundreds lined up outside St George's Hall.

Magical, mesmerising and epic were words used as the city welcomed back the much-loved marionettes for the final time.

While the Giants rest at Princes Park this afternoon, there are a lot of smiles spread over the faces of those who saw them stroll past this morning.

One of the Little Boy Giant's sandals was used as a goalpost during a football coaching session for schoolchildren at Princes Park, in an event involving Merseyside clubs Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers.

A huge butter knife that appears to have split a bus in two outside Lime Street Station and a large fork in a car roof outside St Luke's Church wowed many passer-bys.

Meanwhile, a giant raft appeared at Canning Dock on Liverpool's waterfront.

The spectacle has been arranged by French street theatre company Royal de Luxe.

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Image caption One boy and his dog snooze at St George's

Image caption Schoolchildren from Kirby were excited by the Giants

Angela Samara and Helen Bishton, who were collecting for mental health organisation Chasing the Stigma - one of the event's two official charities - were thrilled.

"We thought it was absolutely mesmerising," said Ms Samara.

"It was a magical moment when Xolo went and met the boy. You forget instantly that they're puppets and it's an absolute privilege to watch."

Merseyrail have encouraged people to use public transport, especially on Sunday when Liverpool host Manchester City.

Several people took to social media to register their annoyance at changes when a special rail timetable left some commuters struggling to get to work on Friday.

Image copyright PA Image caption A giant appeared asleep on New Brighton beach

The event has also meant the closure of several stations throughout the network and affected bus service routes.

Commuters are advised to check timetables before they travel.

Image caption A massive fork spears a car roof outside St Luke's Church

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On the beach

Sean Styles, BBC Radio Merseyside

Image copyright Getty Images

Thousands of people gathered on New Brighton Beach after a sleeping Giant appeared overnight.

As the sun came up, the Giant awoke and was raised up in the shadow of the turrets at Fort Perch Rock.

While a brass band played, the crowd was transfixed as the huge figure was lifted from the sands.

Children watched on with open mouths at this incredible sight on the Wirral coastline.

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Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Giant went for a stroll on New Brighton prom