Wirral neighbours turn out for street party celebrations as Royal couple tie knot

Apr 30 2011 By Thore Haugsted

REsidents of New Brighton celebrate the Royal Wedding

PATRIOTIC neighbours flooded the streets of Wirral waving their Union flags as they celebrated the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

And after the couple said their all-important vows it didn’t take long for dozens of street parties to get into full swing.

Streets which had applied to hold a party - 38 of them in Wirral - were transformed from the normal rush of traffic and cars were replaced with tables filled with food and drink and decorated with flags, balloons and bunting.

With the sun shining down people of all ages sat back and enjoyed their sandwiches and cupcakes as they chatted – some for the very first time – with their neighbours.

As the food and drink flowed for the adults there was plenty to keep the kids busy with some street parties including bouncy castles, face painting and talent shows.

At Willaston Village Green, more than 200 people gathered to watch the wedding on a big screen before celebrations began.

Cardboard figures of William and Kate were cut out for the party, which had been organised by volunteers from the two village churches.

Entertainment included singing and dancing and the Mersey Morris Men performed while a choir sang.

Jean King, of Puddington, Wirral, said: "The future for our monarchy is much more certain with a couple like that. It is more real and now they can relate to the people.

"Kate is not only lovely to look at but looks healthy as well. She is intelligent and relaxed."

In Wallasey Joanne Cartwright managed to organise a street party despite having a baby only two weeks before the wedding.

Up to 60 locals gathered at her street party in Brisbane Avenue, where people had laboured through a 14-hour shift the day before to finish the bunting.

Joanne, 32, said: "Considering I had a baby in between the planning it has been chaotic, but I like a challenge.