CRICKLADE residents asserted themselves to ensure that a toast to the Queen could be heard over the sound of passing traffic.

The toast was proposed by the Court Leet of the Hundred and Borough of Cricklade, a organisation that dates from medieval times.

However, it was rudely interrupted by the noise of heavy vehicles passing by that threatened to ruin the moment.

In a glorious display of people power the Queen's loyal subjects stepped into the road to stop the traffic, making sure the toast could be heard.

Sharon Smith, wife of town cryer Clive Smith, said that up to this royalist display, jubilee spirit in Cricklade had been low-key.

She said: "Cricklade has been very low on its jubilee celebrations.

"I would have expected that the town council might have arranged something.

"This was the only thing that we had for the jubilee."

The high bailiff, Reginald Coole, 83, read a message through a loudspeaker to the gathered throng near the town clock. He ended his speech by toasting the Queen with a glass of sherry.

Mr Coole said: "This is an ancient tradition that goes back centuries.

"The Court Leet reaffirms its loyalty to the Sovereign and it has been going on for hundreds of years and we try to maintain this."

The message of thanks to the Queen was to be emailed to Buckingham Palace.