GREAT Yarmouth will be the shining light of a royal celebration when it becomes the borough with the most brightly-burning beacons in the country.

From Hopton to Winterton, the night sky will be brightened by the luminous blaze of 11 beacons as part of a world-wide celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The event has been masterminded by Bruno Peek of Gorleston (pictured right) who has organised for 1,176 beacons to be lit in the Commonwealth, the overseas territories and throughout the UK on Monday June 4.

Mr Peek, the pageant master of the Queen’s Jubilee Beacons, has called for every parish in the borough to join him by having their own beacon for the celebration.

He said: “We want to urge all parishes to get involved. If we could get every parish in the borough lighting a beacon that would be amazing. We are looking for 60 in Norfolk - one for every year of the Queen’s reign.”

He aims to have 2,012 beacons glowing on the day – which would be the most ever lit in a chain. Lowestoft, as the country’s most easterly town, will be among the first places to light beacons.

St David’s in Wales, along with Britain’s northern-most island and the church of St Clement’s on the island of Jersey, mark the remaining three compass points to form the UK part of the chain.

Specially-commissioned portable tower beacons will be available for churches, castles and other high-points so they can be part of it.

The beacons can be either bonfire-style or the specially commissioned versions which have been designed to go on tall structures.

For more information about organising your own beacon, visit www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk.

Bruno Peek, who was made a member of the Royal Victoria Order for organising the beacon festivities for the Golden Jubilee in 2002, will spend the Jubilee celebrations in London where the Queen will light the final beacon live on TV.

An interview with Bruno Peek will be broadcast on Songs of Praise on Sunday January 8 at 5pm on BBC One.

Locations of beacons in the borough of Great Yarmouth: St Andrews Church, Gorleston on church tower; St Nicholas Church, Bradwell on church tower; Kingfisher Holiday Park, Burgh Castle; Mariners Compass, Gorleston on roof of the pub; Cliff Hotel, Gorleston on decking overlooking the sea; Pier Hotel, Gorleston on roof of hotel overlooking the beach and sea; Anchor Gardens, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth; Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton; Stokesby, beside the village hall; Filby Playing Field, Winterton-on-Sea.