Sittingbourne's carnival court is returning after a three year break, thanks to businesswoman Kelly Kay.

The mum-of-three has taken up the challenge after one of her own daughters said she wanted to take part.

Dance teacher Kelly, 36, who runs the popular Clubbercise sessions in Kemsley village hall, admitted: "It has been a baptism of fire. I had no idea how much work it would involve."

Her first selection evening is tomorrow (Saturday) at the Avenue Theatre in Central Avenue, Sittingbourne.

Kelly, herself a former Miss Whitstable princess, said: "My middle daughter Daisy is six. When one of her friends entered the Miss Teynham selection, Daisy said she wanted to have a go, too. But there was nothing in Sittingbourne.

"I thought it was a real shame there was no way young ladies, and perhaps young men when we get established, could represent their town. So I decided to run it myself."

She spoke to veteran carnival organiser Pam Griggs, who had been looking for someone to take over the court, and has put the wheels back in motion.

Pam said: "Everything happened so fast. Kelly contacted me on a Thursday, met me on the Friday and after a chat said she wanted to do it."

Kelly's husband Saul, a maths teacher who works in Rochester, is running the London Marathon and has pledged any donations he gets will go to the new court. A gofundme page called Miss Sittingbourne Carnival Court 2023 has a target of £500.

Kelly's mum and mother-in-law are helping to create the court's bespoke dresses and her father-in-law has started tackling the carnival float.

Kelly, who won the Best Local Business trophy in the 2018 parade before the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to carnivals, said: "The float also needs a complete overhaul. It has sat in hurricanes and snow since 2019.

"All the wheels are flat, the roof is completely broken and it's very rusty and dirty. It will be a big job to restore it. But we want to produce something beautiful. We are hoping local businesses will help us get it back on the road in exchange for some advertising."

It will be a race against time as the carnival season kicks off in June.

Kelly added: "I want it to be modern court where the girls can give something back to the community, attending shop openings and school fetes.

"The experience of meeting new people will build their confidence and give them an impressive CV for university, college or job applications. It's not just standing around in pretty dresses."

The main problem, though, is that there is still no one to run the carnival parade.

Kelly admitted: "It is something I've love to do but it's just too big to run that and the court as well. At the moment, it looks like we will be representing Sittingbourne in other towns across Kent."

She is, however, planning a welcome ball for other courts in the Appleyard on Sunday, April 30.

Saturday's selection evening starts at 7pm. Tickets are £4 but girls entering the contest go free. Message the Sittingbourne Carnival Court Facebook page for an application form. Entrants aged 13 to 21 must live or work in the town.

For more information, call Kelly on 07908 266238.