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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Kristy Dawson

Crowds watch as beacons are lit in Newcastle city centre for Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Crowds gathered to watch as beacons were lit in Newcastle to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

More than 2,000 beacons were lit at the same time across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories and one in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries in recognition of her 70-year reign.

Elizabeth II is the first British monarch to remain on the throne for 70 years and celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. To celebrate her service, UK residents are having a four day bank holiday weekend.

Read more: Queen's Platinum Jubilee: People across the North East celebrate the British monarch's 70-year reign

In Newcastle city centre, the rain failed to spoil the event as people watched the beacons come to light at the Civic Centre at 9.45pm on Thursday. During the lighting ceremony, local choir Sing United sang a song for the Commonwealth called 'A Life Lived with Grace'.

Beacons are lit at Newcastle Civic Centre to mark the Queens Platinum Jubilee. (Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Families and friends had gathered in the grounds of St Thomas' Church with British flags and picnics from 6pm as they waited for the beacons to be lit. They were treated to an evening of entertainment hosted by BBC Radio Newcastle presenter and comic Alfie Joey.

There were performances from the Shoeshop Quartet, musician Chris Cowan, the Northern Monkey Brass Band, street theatre show Spark, a piper and a bugler.

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