People lined the streets as Maidstone hosted its annual Civic Parade.

Today's procession was led by a Gurkha Band from 36 Engineers and the regiment marked its freedom of the borough by marching through the town with fixed bayonets.

The Sappers were joined by ex-servicemen’s groups, cadets, the voluntary ambulance services, rotary clubs and other civic bodies.

The parade, numbering several hundred people, started at County Hall before marching along Week Street and down the High Street, past the Town Hall, and on to All Saints’ Church in Mill Street.

After taking the salute outside the Town Hall as the parade went by, Maidstone’s newly-appointed Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Greer, and council members attended a civic service.

A number of roads were closed for the occasion: Old College Horseway (next to All Saints’), Jubilee Square and Bank Street.

Other roads were shut on a rolling basis as the parade passed by.