Taunton turned on the style to provide a golden welcome for the Queen and Prince Philip on their sunshine Jubilee visit to the county town today (Thursday, May 2).

Thousands lined their route through the town centre following their arrival at Taunton Station, there was barely room to move as they toured the Farmers' Market in High Street, while Vivary Park was bursting to the seams with huge crowds of Royal followers.

Everywhere the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh went, they were greeted with enthusiastic cheers and people of all ages waving Union flags.

The Queen was presented with scores of bouquets from well-wishers, with a number of children joining in the party atmosphere.

The Royal visit to the county town was blessed with glorious weather and came on the second day of a nationwide tour to mark the Queen's 50-year reign, 15 years after her only previous visit.

The Royal couple kicked off their celebratory trip with visits to Falmouth, Truro and Exeter on Wednesday (May 1).

After their hour-long stay in Taunton yesterday, they took a helicopter flight to Wells and then finished their West Country tour with a trip to Bath.

Cllr Mary Whitmarsh, on one of her last duties as Taunton Deane Mayor, accompanied the Queen.

She said: "It was a really wonderful visit. The Queen was so responsive and very easy in talking to people. I can't believe I've had this wonderful opportunity.

"She was very responsive to the children who brought flowers and accepted the bouquets herself.

"And the beautiful weather showed that God was looking down on us."

Taunton MP Adrian Flook said: "It was a great honour to meet the Queen at the station and an even greater honour for Taunton that she spent so much time here, meeting so many people."

Taunton town centre manager Lucy Ball said: "It was a wonderful morning and the town was full of people, all very happy.

"We're very honoured that the Queen chose to come to Taunton and it was marvellous to see so many people delighted by her visit."

Taunton's civic marshal Richard Parrish said: "What struck me most was how both the Queen and the Duke were prepared to be relatively informal and mixed freely with people."