Cracks of light were found during the pandemic in 2020.

Those who stopped work during the year, such as through furlough, were able to enjoy a slower pace of life.

Even a woman made redundant said she now had more time with relatives, although socially distanced.

These were the comments from local people in the new annual Dover film, which is out now, online.

Interviewees said having to stay at home during lockdown meant they were able to spend more time with their families.

And the travel restrictions meant that they were able to rediscover the assets on their doorstep in Dover, its cliffs, countryside and seaside.

Dovorian Andy Stucken summed up in the film: "Not living in a big urban area is a big bonus. You've got the sea nearby, you can get access to the countryside pretty easily wherever you live in the town.

"On the whole I think there are worse places to be in this pandemic than Dover."

2020 Dover film, produced by Mike McFarnell, is the annual chronicle of the town.

For the first time it can only be shown online rather than the town's Silver Screen Cinema because of the lockdowns.

The film begins with the innocence in January before the pandemic barged into every single person's life.

Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society put on its last pantomime and Dover Youth Theatre, celebrating its 25th anniversary, gave its last live theatre performance before the first lockdown.

In many countries coronavirus has killed more people than wars and the UK death rate by New Year's Eve 2020 was 72,178.

Yet the film shows the way Dovorians responded to the crisis, such as having Thursday evening claps on their doorsteps for the NHS workers battling to save lives.

It tells of River resident Vicky Thomas decorating paving slabs with images and messages thanking the NHS.

The Great British Spring Clean, a mass litter and rubbish clearing co-ordinated locally by Rotarian Peter Sherred, was postponed until September when Covid restrictions were eased.

2020 Dover Film details other events that defined the year such as the demolition of Dover Leisure Centre in March and the traffic gridlock outside the Port of Dover in December.

This was after the French closed their borders to keep out a new strain of coronavirus.

The film lists notable people who died during the year such as Dame Vera Lynn in June and the Rev Dr Michael Hinton, creator the 100-Minute Bible, who died in October aged 93.

Dover Film Festival, which produces this documentary series, lost income through having no box office receipts while the Silver Screen had to stay closed during the pandemic.

But it was kept afloat over the last year through a crowdfunding campaign by Dover Rotary Club.

2020 Dover Film is narrated by Mr McFarnell's son Scott McFarnell and scripted by Graham Tutthill, former Dover reporter for Kent Online.

It can now be viewed, through the festival website.

The fee to watch it online is £10 and details of how to pay are shown.

The cost also allows the viewing of all the other 19 annual Dover films directed by Mke McFarnell since 2001.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

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