Service celebrates Coventry Cathedral's 50th anniversary

The Princess Royal is among those set to attend Coventry Cathedral's 50th anniversary service.

Princess Anne will be representing her mother, the Queen, who was at the cathedral's consecration ceremony in 1962.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will take part in the service along with the Bishop of Coventry, The Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth.

The ticket-only service begins at about 11:30 BST.

It will be screened live on the BBC Big Screen in Millennium Place.

The previous St Michael's cathedral was bombed during the Coventry Blitz on 14 November 1940.

The new Coventry Cathedral was designed by Sir Basil Spence and stands alongside the ruins of the old cathedral as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

Later the Archbishop of Canterbury will be visiting a project helping to transform the lives of young families in Coventry.

He will meet the customers and staff of Coffee Tots and will be reading The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson to some of the children.

Catherine Bartlem, a co-manager of Coffee Tots said: "The staff and customers are all very excited to welcome the Archbishop.

"Our resident cake baker will be busy baking cakes on Friday morning, and the children have been busy all week with Gruffalo craft activities."

To celebrate the cathedral's anniversary, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire has recorded 50 stories about the cathedral from those who have played a part in its history.

The 50 Stories for 50 Years have been shared on the radio and on the station's Facebook, Twitter and Audioboo pages.