Two dancing dinosaurs and a record number of sightseers flocked to Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey for the town’s annual lantern parade on Sunday, December 5.

They converged on the High Street from two sites, one in Castlemere Avenue and the other in Rushenden Road where real reindeer from the Reindeer Centre were on show at the Rushenden Club.

Then, led by a retired fire engine festooned in Christmas lights followed by the Sheppey St John Ambulance Band with all its instruments lit up by tinsel and led lights, the procession wound its way to the Elephant Park and seafront for carols from the Queenborough Primary School choir.

A pair of illuminated ‘stick men’ dancers cheered up the crowd, many of whom carried coloured glow sticks. There was also Sheppey FM and Becki Breiner’s song-signing choir

The park’s flagpole had been decorated with Christmas lights thanks to Cllr Peter Marchington and the outside of Rose Inn was bathed in coloured lights. To round off the evening, there was a free fireworks display from the causeway reflected over the water in front of the Old House at Home pub.

The event was organised by Queenborough Town Council which allowed Santa give out hundreds of free bags of sweets to children. The Christmas lights lit up by remote control as the parade passed by.

Queenborough Harbour Trust staged another of its popular craft markets on the quayside during the day.

Swale councillor Cameron Beart said: “Queenborough certainly wasn’t left in the dark thanks to the hard work of the town council which once again produced a fantastic, well-attended event.”