Up to 20 river barges - some more than a century old, alongside veterans of the Dunkirk rescues - will be gathering off the Kent coast this weekend for the 100th Medway Barge Sailing Match.

The four classes of river barge, with craft dating back to the early 1900s, can reach speeds of up to 12 knots on the 29-mile course running from the Hoo Peninsula out into the Thames on Saturday May 31.

And crews competing in the centenary race of the veteran riverboats are in line to challenge for the Seamanship Pennant award which this year is sponsored by power firm E.ON.

The Medway Seamanship Pennant recognises the part played by the crew during the Match.

The barges competing range from 45ft in length to 125ft and would have spent their working lives transporting goods from around the English coast and the continent into London and the Medway Ports.

Race fundraiser Ray Rush, said: "Not only does this match provide us with a tangible link to our past river and coastal trading, it demonstrates the versatility of the craft, being both cargo carriers and racers alike.