NEIGHBOURS are stringing out the bunting and getting ready to pop the Champagne corks as the first of Oxfordshire’s Jubilee celebrations are getting under way.

Parties are starting in Marston, Abingdon and Wantage this afternoon as youngsters get ready for a teddy bears’ picnic in Witney later.

There are also celebrations in Launton, Appleton and Hailey - where visitors will spy a number of amusingly dressed scarecrows.

And people in Bicester are getting ready for the traditional anvil firing event in Garth Park at 5pm, the first in the town since the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Meanwhile royal watcher Margaret Soanes has made sure her house in Headington is the best dressed in her street.

Mrs Soanes, 68, covered her terraced home in Dynham Place with bunting and Union Jack flags.

The mum-of-four, who has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, has been a loyal supporter of the Queen since the Coronation celebrations in 1953.

Mrs Soanes said: “I always celebrate big Royal occasions and I sent William and Kate a congratulations card on their wedding day.

“I got up on a stepladder to put up the decorations and people in the street and the bus drivers have told me the house looks lovely.”

Mrs Soanes said she started decorating her house on Wednesday so that it would be ready in time for the weekend.

She added: “It’s the only one in the street like it and people have been telling me how nice it looks.

“I only spent about £20 on flags and bunting because I still had some left over from Charles and Diana’s wedding.”

Keep visiting oxfordmail.co.uk/news/jubilee/ for stories and picture galleries as Oxfordshire celebrates The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend.

You can also send us pictures and reports of your events from that page.