HILLINGDON's entry scooped second place behind Westminster in the London New Year's Day Parade.

The mayor’s team was presented with a trophy and £6,000 towards their Rainbow Appeal.

As part of this year’s Swinging Sixties theme, the Hillingdon float was preceded by Mods on scooters and a Mini car.

Dancers also wore flamboyant costumes based on Xixties musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Forty young people from Ruislip’s JAM2000 agency topped off the entry with a performance to the musical’s Colour My World in front of the judges.

To finish, an oversized juke box opened up to spray the crowd in patriotic red, white and blue balloons.

The mayor, Cllr Allan Kauffman, said: “Everyone gave an inspirational performance that took your breath away.”

He added: “This is what Hillingdon is all about – fantastic community work and wall-to-wall volunteers!”

The New Year procession, now in its 28th year, snaked through 2.2 miles of central London to finish in Parliament Square.

Alongside entries from London boroughs, this year there were entries from Panama and the US, plus 17 marching bands.