An extra bank holiday, bell-ringing and a pop concert will allow the British public to express their thanks to the Queen as she celebrates 50 years on the throne, the government has said.

An extended weekend of golden jubilee celebrations will run from June 1 to 4 2002 and will allow Londoners to experience concerts from Buckingham Palace, beacon-lighting, fireworks and a carnival pageant.

The jubilee is also expected to help revive Britain's hard-pressed tourist industry in 2002 as it recovers from the impact of the foot and mouth crisis. The events planned for the jubilee weekend will be a magnet for visitors from all over the world, says Culture minister Tessa Jowell.

"The weekend will have something for everyone. From the concerts to the thanksgiving service, these events will give a focus to the celebrations across the country. But it is the people of the United Kingdom who can make the jubilee a time to remember and a time to thank the Queen for 50 years of service to the nation.

"The Jubilee is more than just the events set out today - it will be an opportunity to strengthen community ties. I hope as many people as possible across the United Kingdom will join in celebrating this unique occasion and have a good time," said Jowell.

The occasion aims to provide and opportunity to look back at the role that the Queen has played over the last 50 years and to look forwards to the future.

Six key themes for the celebrations have been identified as celebration across the nation, thanksgiving for the loyalty the Queen has enjoyed during her reign and for the years of dedicated service she has given the country, acknowledging those who support their communities, involving everyone no matter what their background, looking to the future and recognising the significance of the Commonwealth.

The events will see the gardens of Buckingham Palace opened for public concerts for the first time and a chain of beacons stretching across the UK and the Commonwealth.

However, some of the recommendations for celebrations made by the public seem not to have made the final plans, though officials said all ideas received would be added to their database and given careful consideration.

Suggestions submitted through the Golden Jubilee website included one from "ES" of London who suggested "The repainting of lamp posts in London to mark the Golden Jubilee. They could, for example, be painted gold or red, white and blue!", while "DM" put forward "A maypole spectacular as part of local and national celebrations".

The events planned for the Jubilee Weekend are:

Saturday June 1

Classical concert in Buckingham Palace gardens.

Sunday June 2

Jubilee Church services and bell-ringing across the UK.

Monday June 3

Pop concert in Buckingham Palace Gardens followed by Beacon- Lighting and Firework display.

Tuesday June 4

Ceremonial Procession to St Paul's and the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's (morning).

Lord Mayor of London hosts lunch at the Guildhall.

Golden Jubilee Carnival Pageant in the Mall (afternoon).