THE Scots dance to wailing bagpipes; the Welsh wear leeks and sing; and the Irish celebrate with vast quantities of stout.

But the often repeated question is, what exactly do the English do on their own national day?

In Maidstone, on Sunday, April 22, 2007, community groups and organisations are being urged to show their national pride by parading through the county town in a display of fervent Englishness.

Maidstone council has written to groups throughout the town, inviting them to participate and dress in costume for the parade, which goes through the town to All Saints’ Church in Mill Street.

The parade will be themed around poet and playwright William Shakespeare, whose birthday is said to fall on St George’s Day, a fact disputed by some academics.

So far only 17 of the 400 organisations approached have responded to the council.

Deborah Evans, the council’s tourism manager, said: “It’s early days yet, but we’re hoping for a few more responses.

“It’s an English celebration – so many other countries have their own celebrations, so we felt it was important to try to do something.”

Mrs Evans said the council was not trying to impose the celebration on the town, adding: “It’s there for those who do want to come down to celebrate. If more people take part, it will be a better event.”

Although the district Scouts have long paraded through the town on the feast day, last year marked the introduction of the council-led St George’s Day Pageant Parade.