While some saw the jubilee weekend as a chance to relax, villagers in Great Hockham summoned all their strength to keep a historic tradition alive.

Six members of the community spent more than an hour today (Sunday) painstakingly turning a giant stone, thought to date back to the ice age.

Chocks and iron bars were used to flip the calcareous sandstone slab in a tradition which began in the 1880s in celebration of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, followed in 1897 when she reached 60 years on the throne.

This continued in 2000 to mark the millennium, and in 2008 when villagers successfully campaigned against a waste disposal site nearby.

Organiser and chairman of the parish council, Chris Garrod, said the stone weighed between three and four tonnes and added: 'The reason we're doing it is because on Queen Elizabeth's coronation it didn't get turned - but I have a feeling it was because it was a wet day. We think there was a big gap between the coronation of George VI.

'We're basically just trying to get everybody together and it's been fun. It's very British and totally pointless but we all enjoy it.'

Other events included a jazz band, photo competition and street party.