Residents and businesses from Gosport to Emsworth are pulling out all the stops to fly the red and white flag with pride on Thursday.

Emsworth isn't limiting the celebration of the patron saint to one day, as residents have organised a four-day festival celebrating everything English.

In Gosport and Fareham hundreds of Scouts will be taking to the streets and in Portsmouth an open-top vintage bus will be touring the city, while in Stubbington there is a packed list of events.

Traders in Emsworth have been gearing up for their four-day celebration by decorating their shop windows with English fare.

Emsworth councillor David Gillett said: 'I think it's about time this nation had a bit more pride in its traditional history.

'With all this modernisation, I think it's a wonderful idea. I think it should be a national holiday.'

On Thursday there will be a military march from the Hampshire border to St Peter's Square, Emsworth, by the 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, marking a first in military history.

The Imjin flower will be presented for the first time in public to soldiers to commemorate the Battle of the Imjin River in April 1951 – a key battle during the Korean War which saw the George Cross awarded to soldiers of the Gloucestershire Regiment for their bravery.

Organisers have agreed for Korean War veterans to receive the flower after they asked to attend.

The weekend will see a host of events, including a village window competition judged by John Cameron, who appears in Cash in the Attic.


WILL YOU BE THERE?

EMSWORTH
Thursday, 10.40am: 47 Regiment will march from the county border to St Peter's Square, where the commanding officer and the mayor of Havant will take the salute. The commanding officer will present the soldiers with their Imjin flower.

Saturday, 10.30am: Majorettes at Crown Hotel car park followed by Emsworth Concert Band in St Peter's Square from 11.30am. At midday John Cameron, from BBC's Cash In The Attic, will announce the winner of shop window competition.

Sunday 10am to 4pm: St George's market in South Street car park.


PORTSMOUTH
Thursday, 2pm: Traditional English tea at Southsea Visitor Information Centre, on Clarence Esplanade, followed by a choir singing a selection of English hymns and contemporary songs. This will be followed by a tour of the city on an open-top vintage bus. Places are limited – call (023) 9282 6722.


FAREHAM AND GOSPORT
Thursday, 7.30pm: The Band of HMS Collingwood will present music to celebrate Elizabeth, England and St George on Stubbington Green.

Thursday, 6.50pm: Fareham East District Scouts will be marching along Fareham's West Street from Holy Trinity Church to the podium in the pedestrian precinct, where those taking part will reaffirm the Scouting laws and renew the Scout promise.

Saturday 10am to 6pm: St George's Village Fayre on Stubbington Recreation Ground. The fair will be opened by the mayor of Fareham while a rider from Crofton Riding School will gallop through Stubbington Recreation Ground. There will be historical re-enactments, Punch and Judy shows and storytelling.

Sunday, 10am: Scouts' St George's Day Parade at the Timespace on the Millennium Walk in Gosport.