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Oliver Twist famously asked for more, please, and that's just what the visitors to this year's Dickens festival got.

Running for its 30th year, it appears there is still an appetite for all things Dickensian in the Medway Towns and beyond.

And we didn't miss the ugly faces on display at the Gurning competition - watch the video on the right of this page.

Thousands of people, including many foreign visitors, flocked to celebrate the life of one of England’s greatest authors.

Characters such as Bill Sikes, Nancy and Scrooge leaped from the pages of Dickens' novels and came to life in Rochester High Street.

Despite fears of bad weather the sun beamed down as the colourful, costumed characters entertained the crowds.

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Visitors were treated to a traditional fun fair, juggling displays and a costume competition. Gerald Dickens, the writer’s great-great-grandson, was also on hand to give readings.

The new mayor of Medway, Cllr David Carr, lead the Saturday afternoon parade, and certainly looked the part in Victorian costume.

But things did not quite go to plan on the opening day of the festival as a mock funeral parade had to be cancelled because of a bereavement.

A Medway Council spokesman said the parade on Friday afternoon was scrapped as a mark of respect because one of the organisers had suffered a family bereavement.

For the full story of the festival and more photographs, don't miss Friday's Medway Messenger.