Pictures: Mansfield and Ashfield turn red, white and blue to mark royal wedding

Helen, Lesley, Sally and Hayley raise a glass to the royal couple, Sutton-in-Ashfield, United Kingdom, 19th May 2018. Photo by Glenn Ashley.

The county was awash with red, white and blue as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said their wedding vows at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

And well-wishers from Mansfield and Ashfield celebrated the marriage in different ways, one school even holding its own wedding ceremony.

Students aged three to seven from Wellow House School held a mock royal wedding at St Swithin’s Church in the village – officiated by the Reverend Philip Howson.

Bride Jemina Linney and bridegroom Billy Hoyle even enjoyed a reception and speeches with their “guests”, fellow students.

At St Edmunds CE Primary School, Mansfield Woodhouse, pupils wore red, white and blue on a special non- school uniform day which featured plenty of cake.

The day also celebrated the addition of their new playground equipment featuring a pirate ship, climbing wall, adventure playground and a new canopy, which was unveiled during a visit by Kate Allsop, Mansfield mayor.

Nadeem Shah, executive headteacher, said: “It has created a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn outdoors in all weather.”

Pupil Elias Newsome, aged 11, of Mansfield Woodhouse, said: “The equipment is great it has been a lot more fun.”

Mia Peacock, also 11 and from Mansfield Woodhouse, said: “There is a lot more to do now and we don’t crowd around the same thing.”

Jess Willows held a charity party in a back garden on Quarrydale Road, Sutton.

Party-goers dressed as wedding guests and helped raise more than £500 for charity Bliss, which supports premature or sick babies.

Mansfield’s Four Seasons Shopping Centre hosted its own celebrations by handing out 152 corgi balloons, while 162 slices of cake were eaten and 154 glasses of bubbly were drunk.

The wedding was also televised in the centre’s community space, the Hive.

Rebekah O’Neill, centre manager, said: “Everyone clearly had a super time and the day was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

“We were delighted with the number of people who wanted to help us celebrate this great event.

“We all felt part of this special day very much and the atmosphere was incredibly exciting.

“We relished every minute of it.”

Elsewhere, Langwith Lodge Care Home, Nether Langwith, hosted a picnic for its residents and their families on the day of the wedding.