Over 500 Thurrock Park residents cut the cake for her Majesty the Queen’s birthday at a special celebration recently.

Organisers put on a picnic party and ‘proms in the park’, with live cabaret, DJ and fancy dress, along with a cake for 500 people.

Revellers were delighted when police and fire rescue staff dropped in on the day to enjoy some of the ‘retro sports’, including egg-and-spoon races and taking on residents in a classic tug-of-war match.

Chairman of the Thurrock Park Residents’ Association, Tony Coughlin, said: “Everybody enjoyed themselves, and we were pleased the police and ambulance staff turned up.

"We were slightly let down by the weather, but bearing in mind the thunder and lightning the next day, we felt we got off lightly!”