Shropshire celebrations in full swing for Diamond Jubilee

The great Diamond Jubilee party was in full swing all over Shropshire and Mid Wales today after more than a million people defied the bad weather to see the Queen's spectacular River Thames pageant.

Street parties, picnics and festivals were taking place across the region culminating in the lighting of beacons tonight to mark the Queen's reign.

Landmarks including the Wrekin and the Long Mynd will be lit up and beacons will be lit in more than 20 towns and villages in the area.

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The Queen will light the final beacon in the Mall at 10.30pm after a concert featuring Sir Paul McCartney attended by 20,000.

Yesterday 1.25 million people flocked to the capital for the historic river pageant of 1,100 boats on the Thames, the biggest event of its kind ever staged.

It set a new world record for the largest number of boats in a river flotilla and the huge crowds joined the Queen in making light of the rain. The 86-year-old showed remarkable stamina by standing for much of the three-and-a-half hour event, with the 91-year-old Duke of Edinburgh at her side throughout.

At one point she turned to the Duke and said simply:?"Spectacular!"

Seeing the huge crowds, the Queen added:?"Just look at all those people Philip."

• Shropshire celebrates Diamond Jubilee – LIVE

She spent more than an hour travelling down the Thames on the Royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, which was decked out with 2,500 roses supplied by Shropshire grower David Austin, of Albrighton, near Shifnal.

Two Shropshire narrowboats – the Shropshire Lad and the Shropshire Lass – represented the county. They are operated by the Lyneal Trust, which uses them for holidays for disabled people. Trust chairman Chris Symes said:?"We were delighted to be representing Shropshire. We got to see the Queen – she was only a few yards away. It was really special."

The Queen was joined on the Royal barge by the five most senior royals, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

A 41-gun salute was fired from the Tower of London while Tower Bridge was raised for the arrival of the Royal barge. Six thousand police officers were on duty but only three arrests were made – for minor offences. And a poorly-attended protest by a group of republicans was instantly shouted down by the huge crowds.

Among those at the pageant was 87-year-old Barbara Mouzer, of Bridgnorth, who said: "My sister and I used to come to London, before Elizabeth was Queen, to try and see the princesses as we were the same age.

"We never did see them but now I've seen the Queen, it's made my day."

The biggest event in Shropshire today will see thousands pack in to Shrewsbury Quarry for a party organised by the Lions club.

Other highlights include a children's picnic at Ludlow's Castle House, a right royal knees up at Ludlow's Assembly Rooms, a fun da at Wrekin View Primary School in Wellington, a picnic at Victoria Park, Newport, a party at All Saints' Church in Gobowen, near Oswestry and a party and barbecue in Clive, near Wem.

Pick up your 16-page Diamond Jubilee pull-out in today's Shropshire Star with pictures from parties across the region.