Rochester was awash with colour at the weekend as the world’s largest gathering of morris dancers descended on the historic high street.

The sun was shining all weekend for the 29th annual Sweeps Festival in Medway.

The festival began in traditional style by the Jack-in-the-Green awakening ceremony at dawn on Friday. Jack, a 7ft effigy clad in greenery, was woken by teams of morris dancers and sweeps at the Blue Bell Hill picnic area at 5.32am.

The rest of the weekend was filled with music, dancing and street entertainers.

The high street was swarming with hordes of visitors enjoying the unusual Bank Holiday sunshine and plenty of real ale. Morris dancing troupes came from all over the country to display their talents.

On Saturday evening a ceilidh was held for the morris dancers at The Corn Exchange and on Sunday the venue was home to a Sweeps Ball.

There was also an instrument fair, street traders, a children’s fun fair and crafts, guided tours of Rochester and a host of other events.

Live music has become an important part of the festival, and foot-stomping sounds could be heard spilling out of most of the pubs on the high street.

Among the musical highlights this year were performances by folk star Kate Rusby and folk/rock heroes Strawbs, supported by Chatham singer-songwriter Lupen Crook, in the concert marquee at Rochester Castle Gardens.