THEY came in their hundreds for a giant Diamond Jubilee street party 60 years in the making.

It was a sea of red, white and blue as these 650 patriotic school children, pictured, from The Fairisle Schools in Southampton showed the city how a Jubilee party is done ahead of the big weekend this week.

The youngsters had been counting down the days for their epic event on the school fields in Lordshill.

And pupils from the junior, infant and nursery schools came together in the sunshine and donned their crowns to say “congratulations”

on the Queen’s 60-year reign.

The schools have been busy making hats and table mats for the once-in-a-lifetime event.

Children from the junior school even took part in a royal hat competition fit for royalty and winners took home a Waterstones voucher for books.

In the afternoon they flocked to the field in their hundreds to enjoy a typical British afternoon “street party” event complete with royal songs, sandwiches, cakes and nibbles.

All 650 children, staff and governors took home a special commemorative mug commissioned to mark the exciting event by the school.

Peter Howard, head teacher of the junior school, said all the children were buzzing with excitement as the Jubilee countdown commenced. “We all had a fantastic time. It was really lovely to bring all the schools together for such a special event,” he said.