Residents the Dunmow area are preparing for a memorable mid-summer's eve, when the Millennium Flame, used by the Queen to light a beacon on New Year's Eve, is welcomed into the town.

Sir Alan Haselhurst , deputy speaker of the House of Commons, will receive the flame from Bruno Peek, founder of the Beacon Millennium, at the Five Parishes Historical Pageant.

The five parishes, Little and Great Easton, Tilty, Broxted and Duton Hill, are staging the pageant, which is a narrated and potted history of 2,000 years.

It will bring in local, national and international history, with a humourous flavour.

At the end of the pageant, Caroline Spurrier, granddaughter of the Countess of Warwick, Edward V11's ''Darling Daisy'', will use the torch from the Millennium Flame to light the Midsummer's Beacon.

Joint master of the pageant, Derek Connell, said: "This is obviously very, very special.

''Lots of things have been done for the millennium and although people may have be tiring of it, I would urge them not to give up.

"This event is for everyone, following the events of the last 2,000 years.

''But of course the lighting of the beacon is also most significant. This will be something very memorable for everyone."

Mr Connell added: "The beacon will be lit by the same flame that the Queen lit the beacon with on the Thames on New Year's Eve, and we are all very excited and feel privileged."

The evening ends with live music provided by All of a Sudden, but Mr Connell said that the whole evening is something not to be missed.

"Everything is going to plan and rehearsals are well under way. With only one week to go it is getting very exciting, especially as we now have this wonderful Millennium Flame."

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