THE QUEEN will spend two hours in Burgess Hill next week. The visit to the former pottery town, home to 25,000, takes place on March 26 and thousands will line the streets on its greatest day.

BURGESS HILL is preparing a big welcome for the Queen's visit.

She will be the first reigning monarch to set foot in Burgess Hill when she arrives next Friday.

The event is the most important in the town's history and will be highlighted by the opening of the £13.5 million Triangle Leisure centre.

Shopkeepers are getting ship-shape, while staff at some firms will be given time off to join the crowds to catch a glimpse of the Queen.

The Burgess Hill Chamber of Trade is encouraging traders to fill shop fronts with patriotic pictures and posters to greet her.

Organiser Chris Smith said: "It's a very big day, probably the most important day in Burgess Hill ever, so we want to make a good impression."

Mr Smith, who runs The Collector shop in Church Road, has already decorated his shop front with pictures of the Queen, Union flags and ribbons.

He is also one of those invited to the opening of the new £13.5 million Triangle Leisure centre, which follows a town centre walkabout.

The Queen will be greeted by hundreds of children when she arrives by helicopter in the grounds of Oakmeeds School at about 2.40pm.

The Royal party will immediately go by car along Station Road and Church Road to Church Walk, where the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are to be shown around by local dignitaries.

Thousands of people are expected to line the route.

They will be joined by schoolchildren who have been given the afternoon off.

After a guided tour of the town council's Help Point, the Queen leaves Church Walk for the Triangle at 3.15pm.

Town crier Neil Batsford will call for three cheers, while bells at nearby St John's Church will ring out.

The Royal party will go through Civic Way, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, London Road, Fairplace Hill and Sussex Way en route to the Triangle, where she is expected at about 3.30pm.

She will watch as two netball teams from Oakmeeds School play against sides from Burgess Hill School for Girls.

And in the fun pool at the Triangle a group of 40 children from Manor Field School and London Meed School will give a display.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.