THERE were flags, bunting and cakes aplenty as parties took place across the region to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The Archbishop of York threw open the gates of Bishopthorpe Palace for a major party to celebrate the occasion – and even joined in with the musical celebrations.

The St Leonard’s Hospice Party at the Palace event on Saturday (June 11) attracted hundreds of visitors and Dr John Sentamu ensured the rain didn’t dampen any spirits.

At one point he joined the nine-piece party band Huge on stage, where he provided an impressive drum accompaniment for several songs, including Human League’s Don’t You Want Me.

On Saturday, the Geordie Gunners fired the 21 gun Royal Salute in the Museum Gardens, in York, to mark the occasion.

The Army Reserve soldiers from the Gateshead-based 101st Regiment Royal Artillery fired three 105mm Light Guns on the stroke of noon.

Elsewhere in the North-East today (Sun, June 12), Virgin Trains and Age UK hosted a tea dance at Newcastle Central Station, and Darleen Jonson, from Crook, County Durham, travelled to Buckingham Palace to deliver a framed cross stitch design gift.

Ms Jonson, who is a resident at the Leonard Cheshire Disability care home Bradbury House, helped to create the item as part of the Leonard Cheshire Disability competition to make a present for the charity’s patron, the Queen.

In Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, a party similar to one held four years ago for the Queen’s silver jubilee was held for her 90th birthday.

Members of a National Childbirth Trust group, who had their tots wearing matching knitted Union Jack hats in 2012, got together once again for a patriotic party at Andy and Vanessa Cooper’s house in Bellerby Drive.

Meanwhile, there was a Right Royal Celebration in Stockton High Street, which included the launch of the Stockton Flyer, a large, mechanical sculpture on one of the town’s plinths that will whistle and steam once a day.

There was also a dog show, Victorian fairground, tea dance, lego workshops, balloon making and street theatre.

In Loftus, east Cleveland, there was a service of Thanksgiving for the Queen, with a parade of cadets, marching to bagpipes, that made its way through Loftus Market Place where a salute was formally taken on behalf of the Queen by David Kerfoot, the deputy lieutenant of the County of North Yorkshire.

Celebrations also took place across south Durham, including a street party at the Stainton Grove Community Centre, near Barnard Castle, and there was a family fun day at Lown Mown Meadows, in Crook.