RESIDENTS planning small-scale street parties to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee will be able to do so without the hindrance of red tape.

The Government has granted an additional bank holiday on Tuesday, June 5, as a focal point for the celebrations. The traditional Whitsun Bank Holiday at the end of May will, be moved to Monday, June 4, to make it a four-day weekend.

Provided a street is not a through road – and no more than 500 people are attending – Hampshire County Council has decided the only permission requiring a licence will be to hang bunting from lamp posts – to ensure it is taken down afterwards.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.