THE sound of music signalled the start of a 100-strong march through Bromyard on Monday.

To the beat of John Everett and The Red Dragon Jazz Men the procession moved off from the Market Square to begin a day of celebrations.

Led by the band of musicians the colourful party was a show of yellow, green and red as the Royal British Legion bearing standards, the church choir in their red gowns, the First Bromyard Brownies, cubs and scouts were joined by a crowd who had braved the morning's rain.

Under dripping bunting and Union flags the procession strode up Broad Street past the Parson's Nose Sausage Shop, where a string of coloured sausages were twisted into a 50.

The procession grew longer as it continued down the High Street past the St Michael's Hospice Shop window which had been dressed in Royal pageantry by the town's Sylvia Jenkins, past the patriotic flags festooning the Queen's Arms and through to Cruxwell Street to round the corner for the church.

The crowd filled the pews at St Peter's to hear town crier Peter Dauncey bellow out a message from the Queen.

"Prince Philip and I are deeply touched by the many kind messages received for the Golden Jubilee," he began. The service continued with a reading from his wife, the mayor, Cllr Joan Dauncey, songs from the choir and a sermon from the Rev. Graham Sykes.

The bells were rung at noon as part of the national peal through the country, before a programme of music and song kicked off, including the St Peters Music Group, Pete, Stevie and Friends and St Peters School Choir.

The Red Dragon Jazz men continued their music on the town green, the garden fete was opened and an afternoon of entertainment began including a pageant commemorating the Queen's 50-year reign and a display by the Silver Horseshoe line dancers.

The bad weather may have dampened some celebrations but luckily for staunch fundraiser Maureen Jones she had held her party to raise funds for the Nunwell Surgery the day before.

She welcomed more than 100 people to her Winslow Road home, decked out in flags and bunting and even a gallery of 80 pictures of the Royal family posted up on boards in front of her house.

Maureen, who raised £770, said: "We had a brilliant party. There were two piano accordion players in the garden and Steve Palmer and his son sang. They could be heard from the bottom of town to the top."