Residents have been invited to submit designs for a new Rainham town sign to mark the Platinum Jubilee year.

The sign is due to be installed in the town centre, and residents are encouraged to come up with artistic and colourful designs which would create a strong impression and reflect Rainham’s history and present day character.

Medway Council suggests designs could include local landmarks, people or Rainham’s agricultural and industrial history or sport.

The competition closes on Friday, May 27 and a judging panel will decide on the winning entry or entries, which will be converted into the final design by a professional artist.

All the entries will go on display during the summer at Rainham Library and the winner or winners of the competition will be invited to the official unveiling.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, said: “We wanted to find a way to mark this most important year of the Platinum Jubilee in Rainham and provide a welcome to the town that will endure for year. It is a special way to mark the occasion. Over recent years the people of Medway have shown how creative they can be, so we want to celebrate the best of our local talent by inviting the sign to be designed by our local residents. We hope this will be of great interest locally and look forward to judging the best ones and getting the sign up in this Jubilee year.”

Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, and Child-Friendly Medway Champion, Cllr Martin Potter, said: “This is a wonderful way to mark the Platinum Jubilee year and I would like to encourage local residents and particularly our children and younger residents to showcase their creativity with designs celebrating the town. Over recent years I have had the pleasure of seeing at first-hand just how creative Medway’s young people can be and I am looking forward to seeing the designs submitted.”

The competition was due to close 5pm on Friday, May 27 but the deadline has been extended to 5pm on Friday, June 10. Designs may be submitted along with contact details, in hard copy by post to Communications Team, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR or emailed to communications@medway.gov.uk

The competition is open to all Medway residents, and the winning entrants will be contacted in early June by email or by telephone.