Around 1,600 people flocked to Newington Festival to enjoy a mix of circus acts and traditional fairground sideshows.

Attendance at the annual village fundraiser was about the same as last year’s record numbers.

The entertainment was at Newington Primary’s field in School Lane on Saturday.

Children and adults had a go at juggling, diablo and high-wire walking taught by Jugglez circus skills group from Rainham.

For the third successive year, the Three Tuns, Lower Halstow, won the Newington Tug of War Cup after beating the Gorganites, from Bobbing, in the final.

After the tournament a large group of children enjoyed a fun pull against the champions.

There was live music from bands including Taking Care of Vegas, Bowmore, Flawless Carbon, the Chilly Fingers and the Kulpritts.

Newington Festival 2014

The festival was opened by the Mayor of Swale, Cllr George Bobbin, and visitors were entertained by the Kent School of Dance, Sittingbourne, and Footsies Dance Centre, Gillingham.

Community stalls included the Newington WWI Project, Cherries pre-school playgroup, St Mary’s Church and food outlets Mumbai Café and Café Vintage.

Joint winners of the Newington Cup for sporting achievement were Megan Maleed and Katie Day. Megan also won the beat the goalie tournament.

The children’s colouring competition was won by Ruby, Harry Civello and Kiera Stickles. They were presented with colouring packs by the mayor. The total raised is still being calculated but the profits will go to Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Cllr Paul Greene, chairman of Newington parish council’s festival committee, said: “This is our largest, most successful festival. We’ve achieved our aim of providing an event packed with something for all the family. And the community turned out and supported it.

“We moved the date from near St George’s Day to take advantage of the warmer weather and lighter evenings and, despite thunderstorms the night before, the ground was dry and the sun shone.”