Burnham-On-Crouch Town Council held its first ever Kite Festival at Riverside Park last Sunday (August 13), featuring a local musician and professional 'kite fliers'.

Despite the odd shower and "a very stiff breeze", the event proved to be a success.

Councillor Nick Skeens told Nub News: "Seeing kids doing a traditional thing like kite flying was really quite uplifting.

"We're all used to people moaning about kids being on phones or screens, and yet there were people from three years old up to 73 years old flying kites.

"It was just lovely to see the sky full of colour, and we were really lucky with the weather."

A 'weather window' on Sunday afternoon provided just the right conditions for kite flying. (Photo: Nub News)

Councillors ran a repair shop where participants could have their kites patched up during the event.

Councillor Fiona Clegg contacted The East Anglian Kite Fliers, who put on a professional display. Local singer Thomas Newnam-Clark, known as The Dengie Crooner, provided musical entertainment.

Councillors opened a 'repair shop', where participants could have their kites mended to continue flying. (Photo: Nick Skeens)

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Town councillors spent last Saturday assembling and testing kites to be given out for free to local children on Sunday.

People were encouraged to bring their own kites, and there was a competition for the best kite made using recycled materials.

Local singer Thomas Newman-Clark provided musical entertainment during the afternoon. (Photo: Nick Skeens)

The idea came from a resident's suggestion on Facebook.

"We were a new council and hadn't got geared up to do anything for the summer, and we thought this was something we could do quite quickly," recalled Cllr Skeens.

Children and adults were encouraged to take part in the event, showing nobody is too old to fly a kite. (Photo: Nick Skeens)

Following its success, Burnham Town Council is already planning to hold the kite festival again next year, on 11 August 2024.

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