SCHOOLS across the county will celebrate The Queen's Golden Jubilee with a £50,000 hand-out from Cumbria County Council.

Plans to spend the money on commemorative mugs, medals coins or stamps for primary school aged pupils were rejected in order to allow schools to spend the money as they choose.

Cumbria has 293 primary schools, five special schools and seven nursery schools with 44,000 children under 11.

A report to Cabinet this week showed small medals would have been the cheapest option at 90p each costing around £40,000 to buy one for every pupil.

However, bone china mugs would have cost £77,400 for every pupil, while the cost of commemorative stamps would have been in the region of £97, 700.

Coun John Mallinson said: "A monetary sum should be provided to each school to allow them to celebrate the Jubilee as they see fitting for themselves - whether it be a plaque or planting something.

It is entirely up to them to decide how they choose to mark this very important milestone in the reign of a much-loved monarch."

Cabinet spokesman for education Coun Joan Stocker said: "The important thing is people celebrate this event.

Many children followed the funeral of the Queen Mother.

We don't want them to have to do a lot of work to access this money.

So the message is no bidding just celebrating."

Cabinet resolved the £50,000 will be paid out of the £250,000 set aside in the New Initiatives Fund.