A picnic around the boating lake is one idea of how Helston might celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday this year.

Deputy mayor Gillian Geer suggested the town should hold an event, telling her fellow town councillors: "I think it would look really bad if this council could not be the people that push forward to have some sort of birthday celebration."

She added it was important to "get on with it", saying: "I think we need a street party, we need to put up flags, we need to get the band organised. I think we need to get as many things as we can to show we appreciate a really important person."

It was felt there was not enough time to plan something for the Queen's actual birthday in April and the town should instead aim for an event to mark her 'official' birthday in June.

The bowling green was ruled out as a venue, as development work is still likely to be taking place there at this time, but councillor Nicola Boase suggested a picnic around the boating lake, where people bring their own food and the council provide tables, would be the easiest to arrange.

It was agreed that she and Mrs Geer look at the idea in more detail ahead of next month's full council meeting.

Councillor Ronnie Williams believed the Beacon Parc estate would also be a good location, after it held a successful street part to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Mayor Mike Thomas said there was no reason why both areas couldn't host events.