Despite a torrent of rain and wintry winds on Sunday, crowds of ex-miners, their families and people from the pit villages showed their appreciation for the Kent Miners' Festival.

Gary Cox, festival committee chairman, said the attendance on Bank Holiday Monday was testament to the strength of feeling and camaraderie among former miners.

He added: "It was a humpy bumpy ride on Sunday and the wind almost blew a gazebo away but the whole weekend was a success."

Like last year's inaugural festival, the miners reunion proved popular on Monday for ex-colliers from the pit villages of Aylesham, Tilmanstone and Hersden and Betteshanger.

Launched by a pigeon release by former miner Clive Herbert, a lone piper played to the crowds before they set about rekindling old ties.

Boxers from around the county put on an exhibition that took no punches, show-casing work-out skills and moves as well as sparring and pad work in front of impressed spectators.

* For full story and three pages of photographs of the event at Fowlmead Country Park buy the East Kent Mercury this week.