Diamond Jubilee: Events planned in mid Wales

A castle picnic and a proms in the park are among a host of different events to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in mid Wales.

A major celebration is being held at the historic Powis Castle in Welshpool.

Powys council approved 21 road closures for street parties, and the Queen visited the county in April to mark her 60 years on the throne.

In comparison, there appears to be fewer Jubilee events in neighbouring Ceredigion.

The local authority has received just one road closure application for a street party.

The Queen has been a regular visitor to mid Wales during her long reign.

One of her earliest visits as Queen came in August 1955 when she visited Brecon and Aberystwyth.

She was shown around the town's university before giving a speech at the National Library of Wales focusing on royal interest in Welsh literature, and the links between the royal family and the library.

Her parents George VI and Queen Elizabeth opened the library in 1937.

Before visiting the Glanusk Estate in Crickhowell in April, her last visit to Powys was in 2010, when she visited one of the largest one-day livestock markets in Europe at Welshpool.

The Queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, met local people at a farmers' market in the town as well.

She has also supported the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, visiting in 2004 when the event celebrated its centenary.

With such an association with mid Wales, it is no surprise that a host of events are planned to celebrate her 60th year on the throne.

One of the region's major celebrations is happening at the National Trust's Powis Castle in Welshpool on Monday from 11:00 BST.

Within the castle's palatial surroundings visitors will be able to travel back to the year of accession in 1952, with vintage stalls and performers and competition tents with floral arrangements and vegetables.

A giant screen will show jubilee footage from around the UK, while families are invited to bring their own picnics.

In nearby Newtown, there will be a week of entertainment.

A proms in the park will be staged on Tuesday along with a street party in High Street, which will feature street entertainers. They will also be a fun run.

The town carnival takes place on 9 June and a brass and silver band competition will be staged the following day.

"We are expecting big crowds for a number of exciting events in Newtown for the Diamond Jubilee," said John Whittaker, who is chair of the carnival committee which is organising proms in the park.

We are expecting big crowds for a number of exciting events in Newtown for the Diamond Jubilee”

In Ceredigion, the county council received one application for a street party in Llanbadarn, Aberystwyth. It will take place on Monday between 15:00 and 18:00 BST.

The town council said a street party was going ahead in Minyddol Street, Penparcau, on Monday.

A Jubilee beacon will be lit at the top of the town's Constitution Hill on the same day at 22:00 BST. There will also be entertainment.

Meanwhile, a Jubilee tea party is being staged in nearby Llanrhystud on the sports field on Monday, and there will live music afterwards in the village's Black Lion pub from 16:30 BST.

There is also a party in the community centre at Capel Bangor, near Aberystwyth.