FOUR friends from the Bishop Wilton area are organising East Yorkshire’s highest Diamond Jubilee beacon.

George Ellis, Mark Richardson, Rob Young and Ian Young will light the beacon at the top of a hill above the village near Stamford Bridge, at about 225 metres above sea level.

“We hope to be able to spot 30 to 40 other beacons ranging from Sutton Bank and Brimham Rocks in the north, right across the Vale of York to Riccall, Selby and beyond in the south,” said Ian, the group’s co-ordinator, who constructed a special metal cage to hold the beacon and who remembers going to a beacon during the Silver Jubilee of 1977.

“We also hope to be seen from as far afield as the Pennines and the North York Moors and perhaps the people at the Knavesmire will give us a wave!”

Ian said the beacon would be lit at 10.15pm on Monday, and a rocket would be launched at 10.30pm.