Organisers of the May Day Parade in Whitstable are preparing a "virtual procession" after the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The town’s Jack-in-the-Green is the oldest of its kind in the country and it was set to be the 44th year the celebrations have taken place in their present form.

Morris dancers at the 2018 May Day parade. Picture: Andy Jones

Defiant organisers want to keep the "spirit of the town alive" after they faced the difficult decision to cancel the procession.

Dixie Lee, who has overseen the event since its revival in 1976, said: "It’s such a shame that we can’t have a procession this year but we have to be sensible and safe, that’s the most important thing."

But the team - now headed by Ms Lee's daughter Kerry Fletcher - will be holding a virtual version of the event.

It will comprise posters of the Jack, featuring specially commissioned artwork by Charlie Evaristo-Boyce, for local businesses and houses to display in windows along the traditional route.

A video of the procession, using archival footage made by Ms Lee's grandson and filmmaker Josh Alderman, will be streamed on May 1.

The event usually attracts impressive crowds to the town. Picture: Tony Flashman

Ms Fletcher said: "I think this is a fantastic opportunity to bring the community together in these difficult times.

"I think Charlie’s art is ruddy brilliant and he’s really captured the mischievous, magical side of Jack that makes Whitstable May Day so special.

"If anyone has any video or photos of Jack that they want to make part of the video, I’d love to have them."

To raise funds for these activities, the organisers will be selling T-shirts and tote bags featuring Charlie Evaristo-Boyce's artwork. All the money raised will be donated to Whitstable food banks.

The children’s art competition will still go ahead, which is organised by the Whitstable Lions.

Children will be asked to submit their entries digitally. The organisers ask that anyone who wants to contribute photos or videos should contact Kerry Fletcher via whitstablemaydaymorris@gmail.com.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable

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