Oyster-fever has well and truly hit the Kent coast this weekend.

The annual Whitstable Oyster Festival is in full swing, and people from all over have come together to celebrate the shell fish with parades, food tasting and musical performances.

Yesterday morning, Long Beach was the venue for the ceremonial Landing where the symbolic first catch is landed on the beach, and received by the Mayor before being blessed.

World famous Whitstable Rock Oysters were the catch of the day.

The Oyster Parade also showed off colourful costumed characters, local groups and the Native Oysters Band. Many of the costumes were made at festival workshops held at the Horsebridge Arts Centre in the lead-up to the event.

There are further festivities taking place today for the event which you can find on our What's On feature here.

For full details of all events and timings, go to whitstableoysterfestival.co.uk

More pictures available in this week's Kentish Gazette, out on Thursday.