Thousands of people in our region celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with street parties and special events today.

In the Greater Norwich area dozens of events were held including a fireworks display in Costessey, where the annual fete and fair was given a royal theme with stalls and gazebos decked out in Union Jack flags and bunting.

In Trowse, 10-year-olds Solveig Oswald and Joe Bond-Preston were the guests of honour as they took on the roles of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

Across the region communities gathered together to enjoy the bank holiday and there was dancing in the streets of Thetford where hundreds of people descended on the town centre for a street party.

Around 700 revellers sat around tables in the Market Place to celebrate the festivities and watch the

dancing stilt walkers.

Special visitors also attended from Thetford's twin towns on the continent as part of celebrations to mark 50 years since its first twinning arrangement with Spijkenisse in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, a street procession and flotilla of boats travelled to Beccles Quay as the town's celebrations culminated in a party day.

The party in Nile Road, Gorleston was officially opened by the street's oldest residents, Ron Mallion, 90, and his wife, Vera, 86, and the street's youngest children.

In North Elmham, a time capsule was buried to be unearthed at some point in the future.

Kick Start Fakenham held a diamond jubilee balloon race when 120 red, white and blue helium balloons were released at Millennium Park.

In Dereham, the Town Singers, who were formed last year, performed the Military Wives' Choir's 'Wherever You Are', as well as other favourites from across the decades of the Queen's reign.

However, the festivities were slightly dampened later in the day when the Duke of Edinburgh was taken to hospital with a bladder infection. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the 90-year-old would be under observation in hospital for a few days.