Dozens of pet owners took their animals to church on Saturday morning where Catholic priests blessed them on the Day of St Anthony, the patron saint of animals.

The ceremony took place on the steps outside the Saint Anthony Church in central Madrid where dogs and cats waited patiently to be sprinkled with holy water.

The Catholic tradition is meant to bring the animals health and protection for the coming year.

The Municipal Police band played traditional festive music whilst many dogs looked on.

Believers are also meant to buy bread rolls for Saint Anthony, in a festival that has been part of the Madrid calendar since the 1980s.