A SPECIAL picnic with military bands and display teams will be staged to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

A crowd of more than 500 is expected at the DLI Jubilee Picnic, to be held in the grounds of the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery, at Aykley Heads on June 3.

It has received a grant of more than £3,000 from the Awards for All, which gives Lottery cash to local groups.

Kevin Storey, secretary of the DLI Association, which is organising the picnic in conjunction with Durham County Council, said that if it was successful, more would follow.

"The grounds are crowded for the county council's folk picnic held later in the year and we expect this free DLI Jubilee Picnic will be just as popular," he said.

"We've just received news of our grant success so we can now get down to the detailed planning. We're hoping to have military, school, brass and ceilidh bands providing entertainment on the day, as well as displays, craft demonstrations, a bouncy castle, face painting and a barbecue.

"Essentially, the format will be the same as for the folk picnic with visitors bringing their own food - with a prize for the best picnic - and enjoying the entertainment."

Also during the picnic, from 10am until 4.30pm, three park benches will be dedicated to the three military campaigns - Korea, Borneo and Cyprus - that the DLI was involved in during the Queen's reign.