THE RUSSIAN GRANNIES LAND IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Better known to many as the six singing grannies of Eurovision fame, the group toured London’s sights, visiting the London Eye and Trafalgar Square. The band represented Russia in last year’s euro-pop contest, and were catapulted into stardom when they placed second, pipped narrowly to the post by Sweden’s entry.

The grannies, whose ages range between 44 and 86, hail from a small Russian village called Buranovo, not far from the Ural mountains. Maslenitsa – a Russian festival come to London – was the reason for their visit. In Russian folklore the festival celebrates the imminent end of winter.

Today, Trafalgar Square plays host to the festival, with traditional folk dancing and singing, a bazaar and an array of tempting Eastern food and drink.