As the sun came down, dozens of people gathered on the riverside at Acle to watch a beacon be lit in honour of Her Majesty.

Eastern Daily Press: The lighting of the Queens beacon at Stokesby Village Hall.Picture: James BassThe lighting of the Queens beacon at Stokesby Village Hall.Picture: James Bass (Image: (C) Archant Norfolk 2016)

Vanessa Hannon, 46, the landlady of the Acle Bridge Inn, organised an event at the pub, which drew a large crowd.

She said: 'The numbers of people who have turned up shows how the country feels about the Queen.'

Her husband Phil, also 46 and the landlord, said: 'It is a great community event. It's us giving something back to the village.'

A special ale, called Queen Bee, was being offered for just 3p for your first pint, the price in today's money that it would have been sold for when Queen Elizabeth was born.

Meanwhile just up river at Stokesby, 100 people gathered at the village hall and social club for a birthday celebration.

There was live music provided by Norwich-based opera singer Hayley Moss and a cake with a picture of the Monarch on was cut by Great Yarmouth's mayor, Shirley Weymouth, who said: 'It's marvellous that the Queen has dedicated her whole adulthood to care for the people of her country.'