Baaah! TV gardener Titchmarsh leads London Bridge sheep drive

Shepherd David Seamark holds onto one of his flock ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - British television gardener Alan Titchmarsh and men dressed in medieval costumes drove a flock of sheep across London Bridge on Sunday as part of a centuries-old tradition.

Titchmarsh kicked off the annual sheep drive, which sees freemen of the City of London, the small area which now makes up the city's financial district, exercise their ancient right to drive the animals over the bridge to raise money for charity.

The tradition of freemen — people who enjoy civil or political liberty — stretches back to the Middle Ages, where they would be granted lucrative trading rights and privileges.

Sheep walk over London Bridge during the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Their entitlements included the right to drive sheep across London Bridge without being charged a toll, being hanged by a silken rope should they be condemned to death and the right to go about the City of London with a drawn sword.

(Reporting By Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Keith Weir)

Shepherd David Seamark gathers some of his flock ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Shepherd David Seamark holds onto one of his flock ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Shepherd David Seamark holds onto one of his flock ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Television personality Alan Titchmarsh guides a flock of sheep across London Bridge as he poses for pictures ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Television personality Alan Titchmarsh guides a flock of sheep with Lord Mayor of the City of London Charles Bowman as they pose for pictures ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Television personality Alan Titchmarsh guides a flock of sheep across London Bridge as he poses for pictures ahead of the annual London Sheep Drive, in London, Britain, September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls