YOUNGSTERS from a Gwent village re-enacted the Queen's coronation as the run-up to the Diamond Jubilee continues, and the Argus brings joy to one street party. CHRIS WOOD and MELISSA JONES report.

  IT was all about the red, white and blue of the Union flag as a six-year-old girl was crowned Queen of a Gwent village.

Escorted by an entourage of 20 youngsters dressed as bishops and priests, Reese Davies, six, waved to the crowds as she made her way to St Theodore's Church, Cwmfelinfach in a horse-drawn carriage.

She was accompanied by her own Duke of Edinburgh, Owen Daley, seven, who was the perfect gentleman and helped his future Queen down from the carriage before the ceremony.

Around 300 villagers lined the route down Commercial Road to the church, while the rest of Cwmfelinfach Primary's 170 pupils were dressed in red, white and blue as they followed the ceremonial group.

On arrival at the church, the Royal couple and Archbishop of Canterbury-for-the-day Connor Dumayne, 11, were greeted by the Reverend Ashley Hunt.

They received the most British of welcomes inside, with all guests donning their best clothes containing the colours of the union flag.

The hymn sheets were also covered in the British fllag, as members of the school choir  and Bedwellty Deanery Choir sang hymns including coronation anthems Zadok the Priest and I Was Glad.

Pupils also read out memories written by older locals of the Queen's coronation in 1953- the anniversary of which they were there to celebrate while Only Kids Aloud member Sam James, 10, gave his own solo performance.

In a quirky moment reminiscent of the Duke of Edinburgh, young Owen Daley gave a yawn as he and soon-to-be Queen Reece sat at the front of the church on their mock thrones.  The new monarch of Cwmfelinfach was crowned and presented with a sceptre as the people in the packed church waved flags and cheered.

They then left the church, past their loyal subjects and the guards posted outside the church and returned to school for the rather more mundane task of finishing their afternoon lessons.

The event was organised by St Theodore's church organist Michael Wilcox.