People are encouraged to “be in the moment” this weekend as the town comes together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

An exciting programme of events has been planned by Whitehaven Town Council’s events committee to mark the momentous occasion.

The celebrations will kick off on 1pm on Thursday in St Nicholas’ Gardens when the reading of the proclamation will take place by the town crier.

A Viking re-enacment will come to life in St Nicholas’ Gardens on Friday and Saturday and a photographic exhibition showing Whitehaven through the Queen’s reign will be on display until Monday. St Nicholas' tower will be bathed in red, blue and white light during the evening.

Taylor's funfair will be on the harbour from Thursday to Sunday and the Fairly Famous Family Street Theatre Company will entertain visitors.

A continental market will be held on the harbour from Thursday to Sunday and Leyland national bus rides will take people around the town on Friday and Saturday.

Gerard Richardson MBE, who has worked with Whitehaven Town Council to put on the events, said: “I want people to be in the moment.

“This is once in a liftetime. Everyone in their own generation who are alive today are very lucky because it’s in our lifetime. It’s never going to be in our lifetime again. Nobody’s going to get to 70 years, if ever, again. It’s the first time it’s happened. It’s something for the youngsters to tell their grandkids they took part in.

“Come down, take part. There’s a lot of volunteer hours gone into this. It’s what these things are all about. They’re about community. We want people to come down and appreciate what’s been organised, enjoy it and do it responsibly.”