Wedding is sweeping through the Forest with pubs, clubs and villages turning the Dean red, white and blue.

Communities across the Forest are joining in the Royal wedding celebrations.

Just four have applied for closure orders to hold street parties marking the marriage of Prince William to long time love Catherine Middleton.

But many more are holding parties in and around cul-de-sacs, village halls and clubs.

Families of soldiers who have just left for Afghanistan will be dusting off their union flags for one of the biggest parties in the Dean.

They are gathering to watch the wedding at their community centre in Beachley followed by an all-day party on the recreation fields.

Clearwell is planning a whole weekend of celebrations with competitions and Maypole dancing.

It started with a poems and pints evening in The Lamb on Friday night and

will finish with a street party on Sunday.

"A lot of the older generation want to watch the wedding on TV on Friday," explained organiser John James, 64.

"I know there's only a few official street closures in the Forest but there's quite a lot of interest in our village.

"I remember watching the last wedding on the TV and can even remember as far back as the Coronation. Not many people had TVs then so we went to a neighbour's house to watch it."

There are also two street closure orders for Longhope.

But many cul-de-sacs such as Brookside in Newent are also hosting their own celebrations.

Many pubs and clubs have extended opening hours so people can party on until 1 am.

Sling Social Club is one of several hosting special events today and will be serving a wedding breakfast of bacon sandwiches.

"We have a big screen showing the wedding and there will be a street party for the children afterwards," said a spokesman.

Knitting grannies have managed to produce their own woollen Royal family which will sold on the day to raise funds for Age Concern.

As well as the happy couple, Kitty Jones and her friends have produced the main members of the Royal family and even the corgis for sale at a party in Bream Community Hall.

But not everybody has been looking forward to the big day and the Tudor Farmhouse has been advertising their rooms on the internet as a bolthole for those want to escape the wedding fever.