A problem with the undercarriage was reported to the breakdown services. Picture: Chris Harvey

The Lord Mayor’s Show was a roaring success, as thousands of people lined the City of London’s chilly streets for the annual ceremony.

But the event almost hit the skids after the main attraction suffered a break down on its return journey from the Royal Courts of Justice, it has emerged.

New Lord Mayor Roger Gifford was escorted home separately after the setback.

The 254-year-old gold plated carriage suffered a fault and had to be recovered in Great Queens Street.

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation said specialists were working to fix the vehicle before it could be returned to its regular home at the Museum of London.

He said: “The carriage suffered a breakdown on the return journey from the Royal Courts of Justice to Mansion House.

“The new Lord Mayor, who took office on Saturday, was taken safely home to Mansion House - where he now lives for the year - by the pageant master Dominic Reid.”

More than 6,500 people, 22 marching bands, 125 horses, 18 vintage cars, 21 carriages, an original American stagecoach, a Japanese Taiko drum band, a steamroller, a boat, a Sherman tank, performed in Saturday’s parade.