HUNDREDS of people braved the cold and weather to see the Queen in Blackhall.

Those who waited in the damp conditions said it was well worth it just to see her.

Hundreds of residents, including pupils from the village's three primary schools, lined the streets to wave as the Royal car made its way to the coastline.

Dressed in a pretty lemon coat and hat, the Queen was greeted by cheers from well-wishers who had walked down to the beach banks at Blackhall Rocks to see her unveiling a stone waymarker on the coastal footpath.

For one bystander, Margaret Pritchard, from Blackhall, who had waited for more than two hours with friends in the cold, seeing the Queen so close was wonderful.

She said: "It has been my childhood dream to meet her. She spoke to some of the children next to us and she was lovely."

The Queen was in Blackhall to see for herself the results of the award-winning Turning The Tide project.

She met with those who worked on the multi-million pound scheme to reclaim the East Durham coastline from the ravages of coal tipping and viewed an exhibition showing the dramatic changes.

David Miller, Durham County Council's head of environment and resources department, showed the Queen around the display.

She spoke to youngsters from Hesleden, St Joseph's and Blackhall Primary Schools who had painted pictures of their coastline and nine-year-old Julie Drysdale presented the Queen with a posy.

Linda Doyle, a Year 5 teacher at St Joseph's Primary School, said meeting the monarch was a wonderful experience which the children would always remember.

Among the crowd were three generations of the Twitty family and grandmother Hilda, granddaughter Donna and great-grandson Macs were all delighted the Queen had visited their village as part of her Golden Jubilee tour.