OTTERY could hold an old fashioned street party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee- as it did to mark her coronation.

Residents will be asked how they would like to recognise the sovereign’s 60 years on the throne in 2012.

Town councillors want Ottery to celebrate the landmark, which they said a monarch might not reach again until the next century.

Councillor Paul Lewis said the matter had already spawned some “ridiculous” suggestions.

“It should be something the town can see and recognise every time,” he told colleagues at their full meeting last week.

“People didn’t want it to cost a lot of money, but wanted something permanent.

“One thing that came out loud and clear was a tree of some sort.

“My view is we should do something that is in the middle of the town.”

Cllr Claire Wright said: “I like the idea of looking back at what we did 60 years ago and recreating that. A street party.. how thing used to be. We could close the Square and have a nice time.”

Mayor Glyn Dobson said: “If we do something the town should decide. The main thing is we are going to recognise it.”

He added town-owned land at Strawberry Lane could be used to host celebrations.

The Government announced a nationwide celebration will be held to mark the Jubilee.

Events will take place in the first weekend of June 2012, with an extra bank holiday created.

First Secretary of State Lord Mandelson said the “truly historic occasion” would allow the British people to show their “pride and affection” for The Queen.

Ottery town council agreed in principle to recognise the Jubilee, and residents will be involved in deciding how to do so.