Excitement is building across County Durham ahead of the four-day Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
The anniversary marks 70 years since Her Majesty The Queen ascended the throne.
Durham County Council is supporting local community activities, such as beacon-lighting, while the authority has also given approval for roads to be closed to allow for street party events to be held from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday June 5.
Members of the public are being encouraged to view a patriotic display at Durham Town Hall, with the site set to be lit up each evening of the four-day weekend with images of the official Platinum Jubilee emblem as well as a 1952 portrait of Her Majesty. The display was previously shown at County Hall in February.
As part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, people are being invited to plant trees in their local area during the year, to honour The Queen’s dedicated service to the UK and the legacy she has built.
Cllr Beaty Bainbridge, chair of Durham County Council, said: “It is fantastic to see so many people keen to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee anniversary.
“Her Majesty has visited County Durham many times during her life and always been given a warm welcome.
“It is no surprise that so many members of the public are looking to mark the occasion as she is held in such high regard.
“Whatever you are doing to celebrate the Jubilee, I hope it is a fun and memorable time and one which you and your families and friends will be able to look back on fondly for years to come.”
Libraries and the 15 council-run leisure centres in the county will be closed on June 2 and 3, with both days designated public bank holidays.
They will however be open on Saturday and Sunday, provided those are each venue’s normal opening days.
Gala Durham theatre and cinema will be open across the four-day celebration. Empire Consett will be closed throughout, and Bishop Auckland Town Hall will be closed on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, but remains open on Saturday.
The council’s Customer Access Points (CAPs) will be closed on both Thursday and Friday.
Bin collections will take place as normal across the Jubilee weekend but, due to the additional bank holidays, crews may not be able to reach all households. If your bin is missed, please leave it out for collection.
If it has not been collected by 5pm on Monday 6 May, please leave it out for collection on your next normal collection day.
Members of the public are being encouraged to donate any surplus non-perishable food items left over from Platinum Jubilee parties to food banks.
For more details on food banks in County Durham go to www.durham.gov.uk/article/25040/Help-with-food-costs.
For more information on Platinum Jubilee events in County Durham go to www.durham.gov.uk/Jubilee.
