BRAMHOPE and Carlton Parish Council reenacted a piece of local history to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation.

Their chairman, Councillor Colin Robertson wrote to the Queen to congratulate her on her big day. Now they have received official thanks from Buckingham Palace.

And it was a move which repeated the initiative of the council back in 1953 when they sent an official telegram to the monarch.

The idea for sending a letter to mark the 50th anniversary came from Jennifer Webster of the council's Archive Group.

She found a copy of the telegram, sent by chairman K Turnbull in 1953, among archive material in the Parish Hall.

The words on the original message said: "The people of the village of Bramhope in Yorkshire send to your Majesty their loyal greetings. They express their heartfelt admiration for your Majesty's dedicated life and will be present in spirit at your Coronation. May your Majesty's reign be long and may you be blessed with health and happiness."

Coun Robertson, who said he was delighted to honour the Queen's achievement, followed a similar theme.

He wrote: "The people of the villages of Bramhope and Carlton in Yorkshire send to your Majesty their loyal greetings on this very special anniversary, and in doing so re-enact the good wishes sent to you by my predecessor in June 1953 on behalf of Bramhope village via 'The Post Office and Telegram'. May you continue to 'be blessed with health and happiness'

l Parish Council chairman Colin Robertson with the telegram which was sent in 1953.