WEYMOUTH will explode in a riot of colour to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

There will be street parties, fireworks, a sail past in the bay, concerts and a series of burning beacons across the area.

Local organisations have joined forces with the borough council to co-ordinate and celebrate a range of events running throughout the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, which will run from Saturday, June 2 to Tuesday, June 5.

On Monday, June 4, the country will be commemorating the Queen’s Jubilee with nationwide beacon lighting. Weymouth will be joining these celebrations with a major fireworks display in Weymouth Bay, beacon lighting and live music coming from Nothe Fort where a Queen tribute band will perform.

Bands and live music will play for crowds throughout the weekend from Wessex Folk Festival and Quayside Music Festival on Weymouth harbour.

Other events include a D-Day picnic at Nothe Gardens, Sail Past- a parade of boats, Sail for Gold at the Wey-mouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Passage to Portland at Portland Marina, an international triathlon on Wey-mouth Sea-front and the Hardy Country Vintage and Classic Vehicle Run.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is hoping to build on the area’s great reputation to host community street parties.

The borough’s Queen’s Jubilee events programme is available from a local Tourist Information Centre or at vistweymouth.co.uk, where applications and guidelines to host a street party can also be found.

Deputy Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Councillor Margaret Leicester said: “As mayor of the borough during the Queen’s jubilee celebrations I am looking forward to all the wonderful events taking place. I am very proud of the many local organisations that have contributed to the excellent programme of events.”

Forum organises street party

The Waterside Weymouth Community Forum is organising a street party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Tuesday, June 5.

This will entail the closure of Chelmsford Street from Lennox Street to Hardwick Street between 12.00pm and 2pm.

It is the intention to keep traffic disruption to a minimum to ensure maximum enjoyment for those involved.

Any residents in the area who would like to get involved, can phone the Community Centre on 01305 839579 or call in between 10am and 12pm Monday to Friday.

Further information, advice and support for organising a successful event can be found on the Streets Alive website www.streetparty.org.uk or by contacting Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Events Officer, Charlie Sheppard on 01305 838512.