Gravesend’s clock tower will once again shine purple from sunset to midnight tonight as it joins thousands of places around the globe marking World Polio Day.

But Gravesham with Ebbsfleet Rotary, which is supporting the global campaign to end the disease, say this year it is even more significant because it was the year polio was found in London.

Between February and June 2022, the virus, which can infect the spinal cord and cause permanent paralysis or death, was detected in sewage from North and East London.

The last case of wild polio contracted in the UK was confirmed in 1984. The UK was declared polio-free in 2003.

“The day is more significant than ever this year”, said Rotary president Brian Portway. “It reminds us that we must keep raising funds for the vaccination efforts. Where we said it could be a plane ride away that could be a bus ride.”

As part of the campaign, 2,000 purple crocus corms have been planted in Woodlands Park with the help of pupils from St George’s Church of England School.

Purple comes from the colour of the ink marking the little finger of every child receiving polio vaccine drops in the End Polio Now campaign.

'The day is more significant than ever this year'

You can donate via www.endpolio.org

Each donation is then trebled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.