Kate Middleton's village Bucklebury celebrates wedding

Residents from Kate Middleton's home village of Bucklebury in Berkshire have been celebrating the royal wedding.

Hundreds gathered on The Green at Chapel Row, a few hundred metres from where Kate lived with her family, to watch the service on a big screen.

The crowd cheered, gasped and waved flags at the first glimpse of the princess in her dress as she entered Westminster Abbey.

Festivities, including duck races and a street party have also been organised.

Jane Johncock, who has lived in the Berkshire village for 24 years, said: "The wedding ceremony was brilliant, it was very emotional and I am overwhelmed.

"It was just beautiful."

Another resident, David Townsend, who lives near Bucklebury, said: "They are a great family.

"I watched the ceremony at home and found it very moving."

James Theunissen, who is from the the local area, said he was very proud of the newlyweds.

He added: "I played rugby against William when I was 14, I tackled him and scored a try."

'Lucky man'

People also enjoyed a tea-party at Bucklebury Farm Park where a choir, opera singer and wind band performed.

To celebrate the royal wedding and to kick off the tea-party the village church of St Mary's pealed its bells for two hours.

A number of locals were invited to the wedding in London.

Martin Fidler, 60, who runs Bladebone butchers in Chapel Row said he "jumped through the ceiling with joy" when he and his wife, also 60, received the invitation from Buckingham Palace.

Mr and Mrs Fidler were joined by other guests from the village including John Haley and his partner, Pam Brown, who run the Old Boot Inn in nearby Stanford Dingley.

The 55-year-old landlord said: "They are nice, a really lovely family. They're really down to earth, and he [Prince William] is a very lucky man."

Residents have also got used to having lots of extra visitors to the area - reporters are now a familiar sight in the village and a cluster of photographers has been present at the end of the private lane leading to the Middleton's home for some time.

Simon Kelly, 51, landlord of the the Bladebone Inn, Chapel Row, said: "We've got a very, very excited atmosphere - everyone is very pro the event.

"I think people are very proud here, I think it's just the excitement of having it here, but all over the country it's just a good time and everyone likes to have a party."

Lynda Tillotson, who runs a small interiors shop in the village, said: "The Middletons are super people, a really lovely family and it's a great day - a big grand royal wedding."

Elsewhere in the county, councils granted permission for more than 100 street parties, although many more unofficial events have taken place.