It was a scene of showers and smiles as people celebrated the Jubilee in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

Bunting was proudly hung, Victoria sponges were baked and people were determined to not let the wet weather dominate the day.

A sea of umbrellas bobbed up and down at Great Yarmouth's St George's Park as people enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations while they tried to keep dry.

A traditional British fete was held and people lounged on deckchairs to watch the sheep shearing show while children enjoyed a trot around the park on a donkey.

Kirsty Burn, marketing manager at Great Yarmouth tourism, said: 'We had traditional games including a coconut shy and a hoopla and in one corner of the park we held mini food festival with local produce.

Paul Murray from Norwich, who attended the event, said: ' My brother lives in Manchester so he has come to Norfolk for the weekend and we have rented a cottage in Winterton.

'The sheep shearing was entertaining and my niece, Isla, enjoyed the Punch and Judy show. It's been a great day but it's a shame about the rain.'

Bunting knitted the line of hotels together on Princes Street, where 12 owners had joined forces to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and raise money for Help for Heroes.

Proprietor of Princes Court, Michelle Gibb, said: 'My waitress, Jess, is the queen for the day and my son is dressed as the Lion King.

'Our whole weekend is in support of Help For Heroes. We sponsor the Royal Anglians so we thought it would be nice to tie our Jubilee celebrations in with raising money.'

Ms Gibb's friends, Coldstream Guards Jimmy Shaw and Carl Marriner, posed for photos and marched around the town and a 1963 Austin A40 was parked outside the hotel for people to guess the mileage.

'Events like these are great because they bring the community together. It's rare these days to see people being a community. Nobody has time for anybody else.'

Communities in Gorleston joined together to share barbecues and picnics.

People living in Middleton Gardens closed their street and held a giant red, blue and white themed barbecue.

The party was the brainchild of Marie Cook, who approached her neighbours months ago to propose a party.

'We held so many meetings,' she said. 'It was a great day. We had around 100 people eating and there was a cake competition.

'I have lived in the street for 16 years and there has always been a community spirit. It's a lovely road to live on, everyone is so nice. Before I organised the party I didn't know some people but now I know them all. Everyone had made friends.'

Residents also held traditional games including sack races and the egg and spoon race, on the green before releasing balloons and lanterns later in the evening.

Three Rotary clubs from Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Haven combined to deliver a Jubilee spectacle.

Although they had planned to hold celebrations at Gorleston bandstand, the rain forced them to relocate inside Gorleston Pavillion Theatre where people enjoyed an indoor picnic and danced to live music.

Brian Ollington from Gorleston Rotary said: 'The Pavillion Theatre have saved the day. We would have been forced to cancel our party if it wasn't for them.

'We had blues and brass music and a band for the youngsters. We just wanted to hold a really good, free event. We gave free ice creams out to children and free helium balloons.

Meanwhile, people living in Artillery Square in Great Yarmouth gathered to share cake and conversation.

Miranda Telfer, chairman of the residents' association, said: 'We are quite an active residents' association and it was our idea to hold the party.

'We held a traditional tea party and everybody had a great time. We were raising money for GY Bee and Bee, a charity which helps homeless people get their lives back on track.'