A WEEKEND of celebrations are being planned for the Queen's jubilee this year.

This June sees the monarch reach 70 years as head of state, and a number of events are being planned in and around Worcester to celebrate the milestone.

To mark the historic occasion, a beacon will be lit from the summit of Fort Royal Park on June 2 and small grants will be offered to residents who wish to hold street parties.

Plans for events to be held over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday (June 3 to June 5) are underway, focusing on historic links between the city and royalty across the centuries.

Local people and community groups will also be encouraged to 'plant a tree for the Jubilee'.

Councillors discussed plans to set aside £40,000 to help with jubilee celebrations back in November.

Despite this, nothing concrete has been agreed by Worcester City Council yet for the occasion, though Malvern and Evesham's plans for the jubilee are both progressing.

More on how Worcester will celebrate the jubilee is expected in the coming weeks as plans are finalised by the council.

Elsewhere in the county, June 2 to June 5 will see a host of events in Malvern, with the Town Council having approved plans for the events last year.

£3,500 was set aside by the council for the events, which will go towards sourcing flags and hats for the event, as well as refreshments and hooking up a sound system for the day.

A vintage tea refreshment stall will be sourced to provide food and drink for the event.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft LVO OBE, said: “This year, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch ever to celebrate a platinum jubilee.

"I am particularly keen to encourage Worcestershire’s towns and villages to hold their own celebrations during the Jubilee weekend of June 2 to 5.

"Given the difficult times that we have all been through it will be a wonderful opportunity to bring our communities together by holding street parties, a big jubilee lunch, lighting a beacon or planting a tree for The Queen’s Green Canopy."