Golden Jubilee fever is spreading across Bradford as people prepare to celebrate the Queen's 50th year on the throne.

Throughout the district people are digging out their boxes of bunting and Union Jacks - stashed away after the 1977 Silver Jubilee - ready to turn their streets a mixture of red, white and blue on the official Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday Monday on June 3.

So far five groups of neighbours from Keighley, Cullingworth, Queensbury, Bankfoot and the Canterbury estate have got together to ask Bradford Council for permission to hold street parties.

Pensioner Jean Hardy, who organised a street party in Grange Crescent, Keighley, for the Queen's Silver Jubilee, is using her expertise to help mum-of-two Sarah Halpin this time around.

Mrs Hardy, 64, said: "There were about 100 of us who celebrated the Silver Jubilee and it was fantastic.

"Sarah is the main organiser this time but it's not just a celebration of the Queen's 50th anniversary; she's also doing it to raise money for her daughter, who was born with a serious medical condition."

Sarah Halpin, 23, said: "My daughter Eboni was born with a condition which meant her food pipe wasn't joined to her stomach.

"We're celebrating the Queen's Jubilee on the Bank Holiday Monday because we're royalists, but also hoping to raise money for the Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support charity and the neo-natal units at Leeds General Infirmary and Airedale General Infirmary where Eboni was treated."

Residents at the Riverview Nursing Home in Ilkley, who have made their own Union Jacks from crepe paper for the celebrations, will be treated to a performance by Nicola Gates, sister of Bradford's Pop Idol runner-up Gareth, at their June 3 Golden Jubilee garden party.

The event has been organised by care worker Judith Watkinson, who said: "We desperately need an accordion player or community musician to play on the day. Anybody who can help us can call me on (01943) 602352."

And party organisers are hoping Jubilee celebrations will help bring their troubled community together in Manningham.

Staff and elderly residents at The Heathers Residential Home in St Paul's Road are inviting local people to a garden party in honour of the Queen's 50-year reign on June 3.

Home manager Denise Smith said: "Most of our residents were born and brought up in the Manningham area and we would like to prove it is still a nice place to live.

"We want to show the positive side to the area after all the negativity that has come out of Manningham lately because of the riots."

Bradford Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton (Bingley Rural) has welcomed Bradfordians' enthusiasm for the jubilee.

She said: "We are delighted that people across the district are keen to hold Golden Jubilee street parties and we will be happy to provide information and advice about how they can be arranged.

"Such events will provide a good opportunity for all age groups in communities to join together to celebrate this historic occasion."

If you want to organise a street party write for more information to Assistant Chief Executive David Kennedy, 5th Floor, Jacob's Well, Bradford, BD1 5RW.