Royal Wedding street party in Gravesend town centre

Kent's patriotic neighbours are flying the flag for the Queen's jubilee.

So far 144 streets have signed up to hoist the bunting and dust off the doilies for the diamond jubilee celebrations at the start of next month.

And that figure is set to rise, as streets rush to beat the Friday May 18 deadline to apply.

Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells jointly top the right royal league, with 18 applications each, while Dartford lanquishes at the bottom, with just four roads wanting to salute Her Majesty with a party.

In a bid to encourage neighbours to organise an event to mark the historic occasion, Kent County Council has waived charges for parties in quiet, residential roads, and simplified the application process.

But it has a little way to go to beat the celebrations last year for the royal wedding.

Kent hosted 182 street parties then, placing the county third in a national league of local authorities for numbers of street parties.

Royal Wedding Street Party at Oak Trees Community School

Kent County council cabinet member for environment, highways and waste, Bryan Sweetland, said: “I am delighted that thousands of people across the county will enjoy traditional street parties to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

“We have waived charges for street parties on quiet residential roads and cul-de-sacs.

"This ‘can do’, relaxed approach means people can celebrate this wonderful occasion with their neighbours in a traffic-free street, giving children the chance to play freely for a change.”

Party organisers can apply for a road closure over any day during the extended four day holiday from Saturday June 2 – Tuesday June 5.

Organisers can request an application form online by visiting www.kent.gov.uk/streetparty, or by calling 08458 247 800.

Diamond jubilee street parties by district (up to the end of April)

Ashford15
Canterbury
18
Dartford
4
Dover10
Gravesham7
Maidstone
12
Sevenoaks
13
Shepway13
Swale10
Thanet11
Tonbridge
13
Tunbridge Wells18
Total
144