DORSET residents gave a roaring royal reception to the Queen when she visited the county just ahead of her Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen brightened up the rain-sodden streets of Sherborne in a vibrant pink overcoat with black buttons and trimming.

She even stopped to pet a patriotically-dressed corgi in the crowd, remarking that she had three of her own in Buckingham Palace.

Corgi owner Ed Badham-Thornhill, 18, of Exeter, said: “We decided to dress up our corgis Millie, Floss and Mole for the occasion.

“I said ‘hi’ to the Queen before she spoke to me which apparently you aren’t allowed to do, but the Queen is such a polite and kind lady.

“She said she liked Sherborne because it wasn’t raining and she stroked Millie on the head.”

Her Majesty visited Sherborne with Prince Philip as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.

During her time in the south west she also called in at Salisbury yesterday and will visit Crewkerne, Yeovil and Exeter today.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived by Royal train at Sherborne railway station and travelled to Sherborne Abbey by car.

Shop windows throughout the Dorset town were decorated with Union Jack flags and bunting.

Queen Elizabeth was making a return to Sherborne 14 years after her last visit when she unveiled a window at the abbey.

Thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of her.

The Royal couple first visited a Mad Hatter’s tea party outside the abbey attended by schoolchildren from the Sherborne area.

Her Majesty then visited a food fair where displays of local produce were on show, while the Duke of Edinburgh toured the abbey and viewed an exhibition by local artisans.

The Queen unveiled a design for a flagstone at the abbey, later to be carved and laid there to commemorate her visit and called in at the Digby Memorial Church Hall for a 1952-themed coffee morning with guests and staff from the residential home and day centre in Sherborne.

She took in an exhibit showing the town in the 1950s which will later form part of a Royal exhibition at the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester.

West Dorset District Council chief executive David Clarke and leader Robert Gould were among the dignitaries invited to a lunch hosted by the Mayor of Sherborne.

Mr Clarke said: “This is a wonderful thing for west Dorset and Sherborne.”

Mr Gould was invited to the Royal tea party.

He said: “The Queen spent quite a bit of time chatting to the older people. Both she and Prince Philip looked fantastic and pleased to be there.

“They are an amazing couple.”

Gillian Summers, chairman of WDDC, said: “I shook the Queen’s hand. It was the first time I’d met her. We were so impressed with her and how smart she looked.”

Suzanne Siese, of Wincanton, said: “I love the Queen. I think she’s the most wonderful woman.

“Her behaviour is exemplary. She’s a role model for everybody.”