The Faversham Hop Festival’s parade has been cancelled.

For the past 10 years the event has had a Sunday procession, however organisers say extra paperwork and red tape has left them with no option but to call time on the tradition, which many say was the highlight of the festival.

Local organisations, clubs and businesses have been known to join the colourful procession which was due to wind its way through Faversham at 11am on September 4.

Extra police charges and requirements to hire a team of professional marshals are additional expenses the festival says it can’t afford.

Paul Durkin, chairman of Faversham Hop Festival, has been involved in staging the two day event for the past 15 years.

The 65-year-old said: "It is with a heavy heart that we have to say we just can’t stage the parade this year. It had become a key part of the festival but it is just too much hassle.

"It was a fantastic way to kick start the Sunday and really lit up the streets of Faversham.

"Red tape rules have put an end to it, but we promise to make the Hop Festival as good as we can, and there is still plenty to look forward to across the weekend."

This year’s celebration of the town’s hop picking past will be the 21st, but the last that will be run by members of the community, as they have vowed to bow out.

They argue that it has become impossible to keep up with demands placed on them by Swale Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue and the police.

Police say parades such as that at the Faversham Hop Festival need to be suitably policed and stewarded to ensure all those watching and taking part are kept safe.

This is standard across the whole county and not specific to a particular event.