Parking in all council car parks across Ashford will be free over the Queen's platinum jubilee weekend as a number of events are planned for the town.

The activities have been organised by the council as part of 'Ashford Celebrates' which will take place over the long weekend starting on Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5.

There will be the lighting of the Civic Memorial Beacon, the Mayor’s Thanksgiving Service, music on the bandstand, the Ashford Tree Trail, and the dedication of a new memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of HMS Albacore and the Ashford Sea Cadets.

The first event, the Lighting up of Civic Park and the Ashford Civic Memorial Beacon, will take place on the Thursday from 9pm.

The following day, from 1.45pm, the Mayor's celebratory Thanksgiving Service for Her Majesty the Queen will be held at St Mary the Virgin Church.

Choirs from across the borough will be putting on performances.

On Saturday, June 4, from 10:15am there will also be HMS Albacore celebrations with the Ashford Sea Cadets, in the Memorial Gardens.

This will include the dedication of the new Albacore flag memorial with a commemorative service.

The Ashford Tree Trail will see a series of decorated trees, each celebrating the Queen, placed around the town centre until June 25.

They will be created by schools, community groups, the general public and artists from Animate Arts Company, a Faversham based business that works with communities on creative projects.

Leader of Ashford Borough Council, Cllr Gerry Clarkson, said: “This is an opportunity for everyone in the borough to come together to celebrate an historical moment in our nation’s history.

"I am pleased to see such a rich and diverse programme of events planned to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and of course our residents can also celebrate in their own way by organising street parties and community gatherings.”

While the Tree Trail is being made for the town centre, people are invited to make and display their own trees across the borough.

Residents can also take part in the virtual map by making their own tree using Animate Arts ‘How to create a Trail Tree’ creative pack and sending in their photos online.

It's hoped there will be at least 70, one for every year the Queen has reigned.

Central to the trail will be the Jubilee Blossom Tree, which will be made from paper and cardboard by Animate Arts.

Its branches will be adorned with seeded, paper blossoms and each flower will carry a hand-written message of hope for the future.

There will be ‘music on the bandstand’ in the town centre on Thursday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3, while performances of the Cardboard Proms by Ashford primary schools will take place across the town centre on Friday, June 10.

Street parties and community events are also encouraged.

Kent County Council has waived fees for road closures to help neighbours find ways of coming together, however residents must express interest by March 31.

To find out more, click here.