THOUSANDS of people in every corner of Oxfordshire will toast the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend.

Organisers are putting the finishing touches to more than 160 street parties and scores of other celebrations taking place over the four-day weekend.

In Oxford, around 40 streets have officially applied to close their road and see in the Jubilee with their neighbours.

Mazz Image, who has helped organise a street party in Stile Road, Headington, said: “It is amazing just how many things are going on.

“I was talking to a man in the post office this morning and we were saying we didn’t realise just how many parties there were going to be.”

Julie Osborne, from Norreys Avenue, South Oxford, said: “We are having a nice informal do. People are bringing out their own chairs, bunting and we might have a little swap shop.

“It’s such a nice neighbourhood, we wanted to come out and celebrate it.”

Oxford’s Magdalen Road will have a beer and cider festival, barbecues, a street market and drama and comedy workshops.

Oxfork co-owner Drew Brammer said: “We’re using the Jubilee as an opportunity to celebrate our community and reclaim the street for the day. Instead of cars, it’ll be tables and chairs, cupcakes and chatter.”

And the party atmosphere is not just confined to the city, with street parties planned in every town in Oxfordshire.

West Oxfordshire received 26 street closure applications, while Cherwell had 34 and the Vale of the White Horse and South Oxfordshire received 30 and 40 respectively.

Richard Bradley from Oxford Streets for People, which has helped residents organise street parties, said: “There are more street parties than I thought there would be. There will be a real sense of community spirit and that is something children will remember.

“It is going to be a fantastic weekend but it is important people don’t then put the idea away for another 10 years. Now we have experienced how good street parties can be, let’s do them more often.”