A strongman competition which is usually held in the town has been cancelled due to coronavirus.

The annual event, which finds the south east of England's strongest man, was scheduled for September 6 in New Road, Gravesend.

However, organiser Martin Cee explained after consultation with partnering companies ROAR and Strongman Galaxy, it has been called off.

After five years the competition, which brings in crowds of around 2,500 to the town, won't go ahead because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

It saw events such as the "Viking press", in which the competitors push a contraption upwards from the shoulders; the "silver dollar deadlift", which is an elevated deadlift originating from lifting boxes of silver dollars; the "farmers' walk", in which competitors carry weights in both hands over a distance; the super yoke, which involved carrying weights over the shoulders using a frame or 'yoke'; and the barrel-walk, which involved carrying barrels over a distance.

Mr Cee vowed to bring it back "bigger and better" next year.

He said: “While it is not the decision we all wanted, it is the correct decision and the safety of the community, spectators and athletes is paramount.

"We will dust ourselves down and hope to be back bigger and better in 2021."

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