The Queen's Baton Relay finished its tour of Kent today.

It began its journey in Gravesend at around 8am and was paraded through the streets before it headed over the River Thames to Essex.

The morning started with a moment of community reflection at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.

Speaking at the event, Gravesham mayor Cllr Peter Scollard said: "What an honour it is to have the Queen's Baton Relay coming to Gravesham.

"We are a very diverse community and it's amazing it's come here and we're all extremely proud and we wish it well on it's journey."

The baton was then taken to Town Pier before leaving the county to start the next leg of its tour.

It was ferried across to Tilbury.

This morning's event included a street dance group, a brass band, a steel band and Dhol and Djembe drumming.

Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 event, the relay has been a tradition of the Commonwealth Games.

The event had a special meaning for Paralympian John Boy Smith, from West Kingsdown, who was born just yards away from where he passed the baton at the Clock Tower.

The wheelchair racer was shot aged 16 which resulted in paralysis. Speaking before the relay, the 33-year-old said: "My leg of the baton is half a mile from where I was born – it is kind of like coming full circle.

"It is an honour to be selected to represent England and carry the baton literally a few yards from where I was born."

John is the first athlete with Romany heritage to compete at the Commonwealth and Paralympics Games.

He hopes his performances can inspire others to triumph over adversity and achieve their dreams.

"I'm just trying to shine a light despite all the negatives," he added. "Whether you work in McDonald's or the Bank of England, we are all the same."

Olympic heavyweight boxer Cheavon Clarke was also among some of the other trailblazing batonbearers today.

Based in Gravesend, Cheavon has won numerous medals for Team GB and has competed at past Commonwealth Games and most recently at the Tokyo Olympics.

His successful rounds of amateur bouts caught the attention of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing who he signed a professional sponsorship deal with last year.

Speaking to KentOnline, the heavyweight champ said the chance be a batonbearer in his hometown was a great honour.

"It means a lot. One because of the history of it, two because it was in my hometown and three because I've already competed in a Commonwealth Games twice.

"So now to carry the baton to help light another Commonwealth Games and make new history it's amazing."

The British-Jamaican boxer won't be competing this time around since turning pro but he says he'll be cheering on his fellow athletes in Birmingham including close friend Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell.

He carried out a light jog through the heritage quarter before passing on the baton near the Town Pier to the chairman of the North Kent Caribbean Network Michelle Bramble.

Michelle helps host a lunch club every week for elderly people at Old Gravesendians Rugby Football Club in Gravesend.

She said: "It's an amazing experience I'm really proud. Especially to be able to represent the Caribbean community in Gravesend and the diversity that we've got here in the borough but also of the work that volunteer organisations do to support residents in the borough.

"I'm not an athlete, I'm just a normal person from Gravesend." she added. "So for me not only to be nominated but to be successful and then carry the baton here in Gravesham is a really really proud moment for me, my friends and my family.

"Members of the network are here, especially some of the elderly members who have never seen anything like this before so for them it's been really special."

Speaking ahead of the event, Cllr John Burden, leader of Gravesham council, said: "Since the announcement that the Queen’s Baton Relay is coming to Gravesend, we have been working hard with the organisers and our partners including the Port of London Authority, the Gurdwara, Cohesion Plus, Team Kaizen, LV21, and Town Pier Pontoon to ensure this is a great morning for the whole community.

"There will be entertainment reflecting Gravesham’s rich Commonwealth links along the route, and I hope as many people as possible turn out to support our local batonbearers and those from the eastern region as they play their part in this truly international spectacle."

Tonbridge, Dover, Deal, Folkestone, Canterbury and Gravesend were all included in the route the baton is taking across the UK before it arrives in Birmingham for the Games' official opening ceremony.

It travelled around the majority of Kent yesterday before turning up in Gravesend today to start the tour of Eastern England.