A VISIT to Salisbury by the Earl and Countess of Wessex set the seal on a sparkling long weekend of golden jubilee celebrations across South Wiltshire and the New Forest.

Prince Edward and wife Sophie wowed the crowds with a royal walkabout on Sunday, before attending lunch at the Guildhall and a service at the cathedral.

It was the crowning moment of four days of joy and patriotism that swept the area, as local people joined the rest of the nation in marking the Queen's 50-year reign.

Union flags were proudly flown outside homes and public venues in every town and village, and people celebrated with parties, fetes, carnivals and firework displays.The biggest of the firework displays was that held in the Cathedral Close as part of the Salisbury Festival on Monday night.

It was attended by 5,000 people and ended in a rousing sing-along of Land of Hope and Glory.

Rain on Monday morning and early afternoon threatened to wreck some of the celebrations but people refused to allow their spirits to be dampened, in what was a bank holiday weekend full of fun and pride.

And Journal reporters and photographers were out and about capturing the colour and atmosphere of a memorable and remarkable occasion.