Dorchester kicked off a weekend packed with jubilee celebrations with a right Royal market day in South Street.

Thousands of people packed the sun-drenched town to celebrate the Queen's 50 years of loyal service at a market organised by Dorchester's chamber of commerce.

Town crier Alistair Chisholm welcomed visitors, and street entertainers were on hand to keep the punters happy throughout the day.

Dorchester Round Table invited the public to add coins to a giant image of the Queen for charity and Dorchester police inspector Andy Mason was there with members of the town's crime prevention panel. CancerCare Dorset and other charities and businesses also set up fundraising stalls.

Meanwhile, visitors enjoyed an exhibition at the Dorset County Museum on High West Street, including a collection of coronation jubilee medals - one from every monarch's coronation from James I to George VI.

Yesterday, members of the town council paraded up to Maumbury Rings, led by the Durnovaria Silver Band, for an open-air service, followed by a jubilee tree-planting at the recreation gate at the Weymouth Avenue ground.

Town councillor Wally Gundry, who attended the open air service with wife Gladys, said: "It was a very good service and it was great to see so many people there. The mayor's chaplain Richard Betts, who led the service, reckoned there were more than 400 people there, from all denominations, which was extremely nice to see."

A peal of bells from St Peter's Church in High West Street will herald the start of a Golden Jubilee street party in Dorchester town centre tomorrow. Families, groups and partygoers will be able to sit at tables laid out by the town council ready for people to enjoy picnics accompanied by buskers and morris dancers.

There will also be children's rides, face painting and a bouncy castle.

The event is free, but people will need to bring food and as many partygoers as possible are asked to bring chairs as not many will be available.

Coun Stella Jones, chairman of the jubilee sub-committee, said: "It should be a really good day for all the family with something for everyone.

"We are really looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible."