A sea of Union jacks are expected to be waved in Gravesend tonight in a celebration of all things British.

More than 300 children from Dover Road, Cecil Road, Chantry, St John’s, Riverview, Rosherville and Ifield primary schools will join others from St George’s and Northfleet School for Girls in a spectacular lantern parade on the river front.

It is hoped as many residents will turn out for the annual parade, held at the Riverside Leisure Area, which this year celebrates the country as a whole.

Organiser Gurvinder Sandher, director of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, said: “We have had a great British summer and it is important that we use events such as the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and the Paralympics to come together as one and celebrate what makes us British.”

There will be performances on the bandstand by Steel Ambition, Bloco Fogo and DJ Stan Lee King.

The evening will finish with a rendition of the national anthem and a light show on a specially constructed sky dome.

Accompanying it will be samba and dhol drummers as the lanterns parade out towards the riverfront.

See next week’s Messenger for pictures.