TOWN council chiefs in Romsey are hoping that residents will finally start to organise Golden Jubilee celebrations after an initially apathetic response to the June occasion.

The council has received a poor reaction to an appeal for suggestions of ways Romsey people would like to celebrate 50 years of the Queen's reign.

In stark contrast to the Silver Jubilee, only one street party has been logged with the town hall, while traders have given a non-committal response to plans to hold a themed quiz, and so far there is set to be no major jubilee event in Romsey.

Deputy mayor Mike Richardson, who is co-ordinating Romsey's Jubilee celebrations, said: "We have ideas at the back of our minds of ways to celebrate the Jubilee in Romsey if there's a demand, but to date there's not a lot of excitement and interest in the Jubilee. We don't want to spend lots of money on organising events to find nobody turns up.

"Perhaps with the Queen Mother's death it may well focus people's minds. Hopefully now it's going to start lifting off."

The town council has set aside money for Jubilee celebrations which is available to subsidise community events.

Organisers of the Romsey Festival have offered to put up their brightly-coloured banners around the town at the end of May - two months before the festival starts in July - to give the streets a carnival feel for the Jubilee weekend of June 1-4.

There will be a programme of music throughout the weekend at the new bandstand in Romsey War Memorial Park, while Broadlands will light a beacon and is set to hold a children's picnic.

Street entertainers from Romsey's Beggars Fair may also put in an early appearance over the Jubilee weekend, and the town council is holding a Jubilee themed Romsey in Bloom competition.

The only street party organised so far will be in Strongs Close, Woodley.

Cllr Richardson said: "We will provide music in the Market Place if there is a lot of interest but I don't think it would work on its own - we'd have to have a street party alongside. There's the possibility of holding a Jubilee quiz using the shops but it's all a bit tenuous at the moment.

"Because the banners will be going up, at least the town will be looking really super."

Town mayor Cheryl Collier, pictured, said: "The whole thrust of the advice from Buckingham Palace was that people should be encouraged to have their own celebrations. So we agreed it would be better for us to support a community-led initiative and help with finance and assistance with administration, rather than trying to impose something."

Anyone organising a community event for the Jubilee is urged to contact town clerk Kate Bunce on 01794 512837.

Are you organising an event in Romsey for the Queen's Golden Jubilee? If so, contact Fiona Griffiths at the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4502.