A PROMINENT showman and his family shared a day to remember at a Royal Garden Party in London.

John Culine, his wife, Davinia, and youngest daughter, Claudia, were among 8,000 people invited by the Queen to Buckingham Palace.

Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Andrew also welcomed guests to the event in the Palace grounds.

Mr Culine was invited last year when he was Mayor of Spennymoor. He held many charity functions during his period in office and has so far raised £21,851 for the North of England Children's Cancer Research Unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

He is also secretary to the Showmen's Guild and was joined at the party by its national president, Ernest Johnson, his wife, Marina, and granddaughter, Kimberly Watson.

Mr Culine said: "It was a day we will never forget.

"This was no doubt the proudest moment in our lives and ended a perfect year for me and my family."