One of the largest May Day celebrations in the world continues for a third day today.

The Sweeps Festival in Rochester attracts huge crowds each year, as music and dancing fills the historic high street.

The festival showcases top folk musicians and bands, while hundreds of Morris dancers from across the country travel to Medway to take part.

The celebration dates back more than 300 years to when children were used as chimney sweeps and would be given an annual holiday on May 1, which allowed them to have some fun and stage a procession to collect money.

When it became illegal to employ climbing boys in 1868 that tradition began to fade away and the last celebration was held in the early 1900s.

Local historian and businessman Gordon Newton revived it in Medway in 1981 after finding an article by Charles Dickens describing the celebration.

The town centre has been packed with visitors for the last two days and traders will be hoping the wet weather doesn’t put people off today.

Organisers Medway Council posted yesterday: “Thank you for joining us at the Rochester Sweeps Festival today.

“We hope you had a fantastic time enjoying the music, dance, food, and festive spirit throughout the day.

“A huge thank you to all of our incredible performers who brought the streets of Rochester to life — we couldn’t do it without you.

“See you tomorrow for the final day of the festival.”

One person commented: “Fabulous day!”

There is limited parking available in Rochester. There is a Park & Walk from Jackson's Field (ME1 2AB) for £4 per vehicle, which is about a 10 minute walk into the town centre.