ROYAL wedding fever is gripping Westmorland as communities prepare to celebrate tomorrow’s historic nuptuals.

While Prince William and Kate Middleton prepare to marry in front of an estimated global TV audience of one billion at Westminster Abbey, patriotic South Lakelanders are adding the finishing touches to parties being held in their honour.

Organisers of a street party in Sandgate, Kendal, were busy with last-minute baking and making bunting.

“Everyone is really looking forward to tomorrow, even if they’re not wild about the Royal Wedding. It’s an excuse to celebrate your community,” said organiser Jenny Goodman. “We’ve got our tressle tables and red, white and blue tablecloths and lads playing music from all eras. It’s going to be great.”

Street parties are also planned for Neston Court, Arnside, and Birkfield Road, Windermere, while many residents are coming together informally for BBQs and garden parties.

Children across the region have also got into the regal spirit with ‘mock-weddings’ planned at Ravenstonedale, Ambleside, Grasmere, Levens, Ravenstonedale and Coniston primary schools.

At Grasmere, infants will act out the parts of William and Kate in the village’s St Oswald’s Parish Church with the Rev Cameron Butland ‘officiating’ as the Archbishop of Cantebury.

Girls at First Kendal Brownies were awarded the new Royal Wedding badges at a ‘wedding reception’ at restaurant Pizza Express on Tuesday night, for learning how to write invitations, make corsages and wedding favours.

Family fun days at Oxen Park, Ulverston, and The Black Bull, Kirkby Stephen, will also have a Royal theme while Appleby Town Band will be recreating a ‘Last Night of the Proms’ evening with the town band in the Public Hall.

Betting has also gone into overdrive with Kendal’s Betfred open for gambles on the colour of the Queen’s hat for the big day (6/4 yellow) and even what time Kate will arrive at Westminster Abbey.

Bets are also being taken on the sex of their first child.

But for front-line workers it is business as usual.

Cumbria police, fire and rescue, hospital doctors and nursing staff working the bank holiday will be doing their normal shifts with no breaks for the 11.30am televised ceremony.

“We’ll all be carrying on with our normal duties but we might have a TV on showing the ceremony in the station if they want to watch it on their breaks,” said watch manager Paul Hanby of Kendal Fire Station.

Nurses at Cartmel Grange Care Home are will be watching the wedding with residents, many of whom remember the Queen and Philip marrying in 1947.

Nurse Maria Kalikova, said: “The residents are giddy with excitement and we’ll all sit down and watch it together.”

l Are you travelling to London for the Royal Wedding? If you are, we would like to hear your story. Contact Kate Proctor on 01539 710 190.