REPRESENTATIVES from east Kent businesses and organisations will be among 40 people from the county heading for a 10-day festival in America.

They will be promoting Kent’s cultural roots and showing what it has to offer today.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will be held between the Capitol Building and Washington Monument in Washington DC between June 27 and July 8 and is expected to see more than a million visitors.

Themes include tourism, agriculture, buildings arts, food, gardens, maritime traditions and music and storytelling.

Among those representing agriculture and enterprise will be Derek Hitcham from Shepherd Neame Master Brewers.

Canterbury Cathedral stonemasons Jim Hanford and Ben Swinfield, with stained glass restorer and artist Keith and Judy Hill, will be promoting the county’s historic architecture.

Oysterman Andy Riches, from Whitstable, will be representing the county’s maritime traditions with Faversham-based boat builder Alan Staley.

Archaeologists from Canterbury will demonstrate some of Kent’s heritage with details of their excavations.