Kent is bringing out the bunting as it prepares to host more Royal Wedding street parties than anywhere else in Britain.

Union Flags will be flying high across the county as at least 66 bashes to celebrate William and Kate getting married kick off.

Figures compiled by Kent County Council in mid March show so far 54 parties have been given the go-ahead.

A further six have been added since then and Medway council has also approved another six.

It takes the running total to more than double the UK's second most popular venue, which is Cambridgeshire with 32.

Cambridgeshire, however, has a population of third of Kent's - which currently stands at around 1.6 million people.

Council bosses expect that figure to rise before the April 15 deadline for getting permission with the wedding two weeks later.

Kent County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, Bryan Sweetland, said there must be a common sense approach in the way things are done.

It follow's Kent County Council's decision to waive charges for street parties on quiet residential roads and cul-de-sacs.

KentOnline had revealed the cost could rocket to up to £1,000 to secure the road closures necessary.

Kent County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, Bryan Sweetland, said: "We set out to make sure this process was as simple as possible, so that if residents wanted to enjoy the event with their neighbours, then they wouldn't have to plough through piles of application forms.

"This just goes to prove what cutting through bureaucratic red tape can do.

"More and more, I would like to see our highways policy governed by three basic key tests, is it safe, is it legal, and is it affordable.

"In future, local communities will have a greater say in what happens locally and I hope that this has demonstrated what can be done in supporting the wishes of local communities.

"All of us at Kent County Council wish the Royal couple a very enjoyable wedding day."