Gloucester will join the thousands of towns and cities lighting a beacon for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee on Thursday, June 2.

The beacons are being lit in the UK and the Commonwealth as part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee weekend.

Gloucester's will be lit on Robinswood Hill at 9.45pm and it will be one of over 2,022 lit by charities, communities and faith groups all over the country.

The event will be accompanied by a piper and bugler from the Cadets with an official proclamation being given by town crier, Alan Myatt, at Gloucester Cross at 2pm.

In addition, beacons will be lit in all 54 Commonwealth capitals and the principal beacon lighting will take place in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening.

This will take the form of a lighting installation with The Queen's Green Canopy 'Tree of Trees' sculpture and projections onto the front of Buckingham Palace. This innovative new way of taking part in the beacon lighting will reflect the Royal Family's long history championing environmental causes.

Gloucester will also celebrate the Jubilee weekend with the Tall Ships Festival, June 3-5, accompanied by the Gloucester Shanty Festival, with the city's streets specially decorated for the occasion.

Councillor Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: "We are proud to be part of this amazing event which will mark a very special milestone for both queen and country. Gloucester will be the place to be over this fantastic weekend so we would encourage visitors to come and celebrate this momentous occasion with us."

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen's Jubilee Platinum Beacons, said: "Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, thousands of beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth

They will enable local communities to join together to pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events. For the first time, town criers, pipers, buglets and choirs from the UK and the Commonwealth will come together to join in the celebrations in their own individual and special way."

For more information visit www.visitgloucester.co.uk  or visit www.queensjubileebeacons.com