THE partial collapse of Tadcaster bridge following flooding has had a devastating impact on businesses - but now traders are planning to turn its closure to positive use with a street party at the weekend.

The party to mark the Queen's official 90th birthday will take place on Sunday afternoon in Bridge Street, next to the bridge, which is closed to through traffic throughout 2016 during a major repair scheme.

One of the organisers, Zoe Devine, who owns Devine Meats, which itself was flooded on Boxing Day, was herself a guest at a Buckingham Palace garden party a few weeks ago in recognition of her work for the town during the floods. "I'm very excited to be hosting a party for the Queen's 90th having been within touching distance of her very recently," she said.

Also involved is Lisa Stubbs, the owner of Simply a Party, which was hit very badly by the floods and is in a temporary pop up shop on Kirkgate, where she has stocked up with Union Flag goodies and royal memorabilia.

Mary Scott, who runs Quite Contrary Cakes and was the brains behind a Design a cake for the Queen competition, said she had received lots of wonderful entries from local schools, with the winning design to be made and displayed on the party day before being given to ne youngster.

Zoe said the free party would run from noon until 6pm on Sunday, and would be open to anyone, young and old, with people invited to bring their own food and drink, which they could also buy from various businesses which would be open.