A foot-stomping Oompah band, the downing of 10 kegs of German lager and the taste of Bratwurst sausages brought a ‘flavour’ of Bavaria to Dartford.

Some 100 people gathered at the town’s Amar Hall for a traditional Oktoberfest, while a band dressed in lederhosen, Bavarian hats and knee-high socks got glasses clinking in unison.

The first Oktoberfest was held in Germany on October 12, 1810, to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxon-Hildburghausen.

Ever since it has been an annual event marked by millions of Germans in Bavaria and in many parts of Britain.

Over in Dartford, event organiser Stephen Barrett said: “Being the first Oktoberfest in this town, we feel we set the mark high and cannot wait to put to work what we have learned this year into a bigger and better version next year.”