All cars and lorries are expected to be banned from next year's Sheppey summer carnival.

Sheerness Town Council is planning a radical shake-up if it takes over the reins in August.

The newly formed council offered to step in to continue the tradition when the McCall family threw in the towel after 17 years.

But in a surprise twist, the steering group led by Cllr Cherise Moorcroft wants to turn it into a pedestrian-only parade.

She said: "We don't want any vehicles. We'd rather have people than lorries. It will be green and clean."

She added: "Sheerness is often seen as being a little quirky so we thought we'd go with a quirky carnival. It will be something different.

"The carnival definitely needs a rethink. People have been moaning about it. It was not working as it should.

"Organiser were finding it hard to get lorries and drivers. We want to make it more accessible.

"The only thing people will need to worry about is finding a costume."

She said a theme for next year's parade will be picked later and added: "It's a new decade so it is a perfect time to try something new. We want all the community to be involved in it."

The council has already agreed to stump up £5,000 to kick-start the parade.

The news was welcomed by fellow councillor Chris Reed whose organisation Big Fish Arts organises the successful Sheerness lantern parade.

She said: "We said a long time ago we didn't want to be associated with any parade which had engines in it.

"A few years ago people complained there were too many noisy banger cars in the carnival. And lorries belch out fumes at just the height of children."

It will mean that traditional displays favoured by organisations such as 8th Sheppey Scouts, Eden Dance School and Balloonatic will be banned and carnival queens may have to rethink their floats.

Cllr Reed said: "It would be interesting to see some floats pulled by people. It would also be good to have electric vehicles such as decorated mobility scooters like the one made by Tim Bell."

Former carnival association chairman Bob McCall, who will continue to organise the Miss Sheppey competition, said: "I can't see this working."

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Read more: history and memories of Sheppey carnival