The residents of a north Norfolk town are getting ready to party like it's 1896 for this year's diamond jubilee celebrations.

The organising committee are planning a street party in Aylsham to celebrate 60 years of the Queen's coronation - and it is hoped to be on the same scale as Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee nearly 116 years ago.

Chairman of the jubilee committee Mike Bush, said they had been hard at work planning the celebrations since October and added that they are still open to ideas.

He said: 'We hope several 100 will turn up for this event. It's a unique opportunity as it's not everyday you get to sit in the middle of the Market Place and have your sandwiches and enjoy yourself without any of the traffic around.

'It's a once in a lifetime experience and we want people to enjoy it.'

The street party on June 4 is just one of the events already planned for that weekend. There will also be an art exhibition in the parish church and on June 1, there will be a disco at the Youth Club on Cawston Road.

June 2 will see a dance held in the Town Hall with music from Barry Lee and on June 3 there will be an Ecumenical Service in the parish church with bell ringing.

The free street party is open to everyone and people are asked to bring their own food and drink. There will be music from a walking New Orleans-style jazz band, as well as other musical acts, a wandering magician and competitions.

Mr Bush added: 'I want people to remember this for the rest of their lives.'

The Market Place and Red Lion Street will be closed to traffic for the event and there will be an opportunity to reserve places once the layout has been decided.

? For tickets for the town hall dance (priced at �7.50) on June 3 call Ruth White on 01263 733201.