The winners of a special 150th Dickens anniversary competition have been announced.

Printmakers from across Medway were asked to create pieces inspired by the author for an exhibition at Rochester Art Gallery commemorating his death in 1870.

It was planned to be the flagship of the Medway Print Festival, which was scheduled to hold 47 events in 15 locations this month, before the coronavirus forced the festival to be moved online.

The six winning prints from the competition, which saw 100 entries, were created by Neil Mattingly, Gloria Holden, Adam Hanson, Heather Haythornthwaite, Paul Jerome and Matilda Flood.

Each winner also received £100.

The council's portfolio holder for community services, Cllr Howard Doe (Con), said: “In these unusual times it’s very important that we find innovative ways to bring communities together and I am pleased that a virtual Medway Print Festival has been able to go ahead.

"Thank you to all of Medway’s creatives for rising to the challenge and I would encourage residents of all ages to visit the online event to find out more information and take part in the festival.

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"Congratulations to all of the open call winners, and everyone who took part in the competition and I am pleased that the standard of entries was very high.

"I look forward to seeing the work on display once the exhibition has been rescheduled.”

For more information on the online event you can visit www.medwayprintfestival.com.

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