CELEBRATIONS were jubilant this bank holiday weekend as residents celebrated the Queen's platinum jubilee. 

Visitors could be see across Halstead with hundreds packing out the town's public gardens.

Residents were wowed by a top performance from locally popular band The Beavers and new Halstead new mayor Jackie Pell came along to enjoy the celebrations which marked the Queen's 70th year on the throne.

Weavers Court, in Halstead, was also transformed for the day with stalls selling all manner of trinkets and jubilee-related items.

Officers with Essex Police also attended the event.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Officers from our Local Policing Team (LPT) attended Halstead Public Gardens.

"Some of our officers from Braintree LPT were joined by the Mayor of Halstead for a stroll around the public gardens during one of the many jubilee parties being held within our district.

"It was great for our officers to be able to stop and talk with so many members of the public and provide a visible police presence."

After the events in Halstead ended, Halstead Town Council says it is thrilled with the results.

A spokesman for the council said: “Halstead Town Council was happy to be able to put on a large number of events over the Jubilee weekend, with support from Braintree District Council’s Welcome Back Fund.

"These included a solo singer Serena Grant, a Caribbean steel drum band, two films for children, stalls and children’s activities in Weavers’ Court, a performance from the Community choir, and the Beavers playing on Sunday afternoon.  

"There were also mobile food vans.

"There was a great deal of help from council staff and volunteers from the community in putting on these events, and there has been much praise from the town.

"MP James Cleverly, Braintree Council chairman Andrew Hensman, and the Essex County Councillor Chris Siddall also attended.

"The new chairman of Halstead Town Council expressed her delight that all the events had taken place in such a good atmosphere.”