Thousands of people are expected to throng the banks of the Royal Military Canal in Hythe today for the return of the Venetian Fete.

The event, which is a biennial tradition in the town dating back to 1890, sees elaborately-decorated floats parade along the water, once in daylight and then for a second time in full illumination once the sun sets.

It was cancelled last year because of the pandemic but returns this week to reclaim its traditional place in the town's calendar on the third Wednesday of August.

Steve Way, who is chairman of the organising committee, said: "It is a unique event, there are no other Venetian fetes in the country.

"As far as we can establish, there are no events that have similar illuminated floats running down the canal.

"It makes best use of that historic element of Hythe, very much part of the reason that Hythe is Hythe is the Royal Military Canal and the historic military presence, and it is an event which is part of Hythe's heritage.

"It goes back pretty much unchanged to 1890."

Gates open at 4pm today and the first procession is scheduled to begin at around 7pm. The illuminated parade will take place at around 9pm following an intermission.

Tickets for the event should be purchased online or via smartphone on the night.

Although sales are lower than pre-pandemic, the canal banks will be packed and visitors are advised to take their positions as early as possible so as not to miss the parade.

"We are very slightly down, but we have to be alert to the economic situation, it is a discretionary purchase," Mr Way said of this year's ticket sales.

"We are expecting to get between seven and eight thousand spectators, which is pretty good.

"The whole thing is run by volunteers, and without them the thing simply wouldn't happen.

"I think the people of Hythe are proud to have it here.

"It's a long link back to the past, it's happened in unbroken runs apart from during the wars. It's only been disrupted by wars and pandemics."