Probably the best Deal Maritime Folk Festival yet brought with it the sound of sea shanties ringing through the streets at the weekend.

Music, song and dance made a jam-packed programme, starting on Friday at Deal Library with Singing Histories-Kent, compiled by Bob Kenward and sponsored by Music for Change.

The popular annual festival is organised by Deal Hoodener Martin Thomson helped by Steve Grayland, who also plays with the group.

A special concert called The Old Tradition filled the town hall with an aura of history and the sounds of John Barden, Martin Button and The Deal Hoodeners.

Folk revellers spilled out onto Middle Street from The Ship Inn to hear Carey Rathbone Bell entertain with their goodtime music and old time blues while Dave and Carol Partridge and Friends performed a traditional toe-tapping jamming session at The Deal Hoy in Duke Street.

Shoppers walking through the High Street precinct on Saturday looked on in awe at the energy and vibrance of morris dancers and musicians, while children turned into shipmates at the Astor Theatre when it opened for one day only for Pirate Pat’s Pirates Party for children with Carol Duff and Johnny Can’t Dance.

See this week’s East Kent Mercury for a two-page picture special on the festival.