The annual Lord Mayor's Show will go ahead despite threat of protests by demonstrators, the organisers have said.

The pageant, one of the most popular civic processions in the world, is set to start at 11 a.m. Organisers have urged anti-capitalist protesters camping outside St Paul's not to disrupt the procession.

Minor alterations have been made to the procession's usual route to make way for the camp at St Paul's, but the grandstands will be in their usual place at the south-eastern corner of the cathedral.

The pageant goes from Mansion House via Bank, St Paul's and Fleet Street to Aldwych, ending up at the Royal Courts. It will culminate in the new Lord Mayor's fireworks display over the Thames at 5 in the evening.

The show, which is 800 years old and three miles long, will feature 6000 participants.

Pageantmaster Dominic Reid said: "Those of you who come to protest, we ask that you bear in mind the nature of the show. It is a family day out, and the procession includes over 1200 children, 385 volunteer workers, several dozen disabled people and nearly 500 animals.

"Many of those people have spent months preparing, building and choreographing their part of the show and nobody would like to see their day spoiled."