Beacon chain to mark Trafalgar bicentenary

A chain of blazing beacons running the length of Britain will be lit to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Hundreds of events will take place over the October weekend that marks the bicentenary of the defeat of the French - and the death of Nelson. But the beacons will be one of the most spectacular.

The first will be lit at

6.45pm on Friday 21 October alongside Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, moored at Portsmouth.

The second will be at Ballater in Deeside, the first Scottish beacon.

After that, it is hoped that volunteers across mainland Britain and the Channel Islands will light their own beacons, creating a chain of light across the country.

Bruno Peek, the Trafalgar Weekend chairman, said: "We hope it will be a spectacular sight."