ENGLAND'S patron saint would be very proud of Norley's Sally Fox.

The ex-BBC producer led Manchester's St George's Day Parade over the weekend - and even slew a dragon.

The parade took a comical turn when a giant inflatable dragon, designed especially for the day's celebrations, burst as the floats set off through Manchester.

"If I wasn't head-to-foot in armour, I would have been in fits of laughter," said Sally.

"It burst as we went into a tunnel near the G-Mex centre. Everyone saw it go in, but only me and my horse emerged triumphant at the other end! St George had won - again."

Sally was helping the BBC and Manchester City Council by donning the mantle of Britain's first female St George for the big parade. She was kitted out in a suit of armour which appeared in the 1981 historical epic, Excalibur.

It weighed a staggering 60lbs, and Sally also wielded a 20lb sword.

"We were so fortunate to get the costume, because the man who owns them was in Hollywood, filming an advert.

"His name is Terry English, and he provides costumes for everything from the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Alien films. But he said we could have it, and I must admit, it looked amazing."

For company, 'St Sally' had her trusty steed Sultan, an Andalucian stallion who specialises in stunt work.

Together, they led a parade of about 6,000 people through the streets of Manchester.

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