Thousands of people across Sussex are already preparing to take to the streets for the royal wedding.

Residents up and down the county are in discussions about arranging street parties to celebrate the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

Experts believe the scale of the festivities is predicted to match or exceed those held to mark the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer.

They say that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter will make it easier for organisers to keep in touch and ask for help.

But councils are warning people to ensure they apply early for the relevant paperwork which allows them to legally close their roads.

Residents in Osborne Villas, Hove, are among the first to begin plans for an event.

Resident Robert Nemeth, 30, said: “It is a friendly street anyway and everyone I have spoken to sees this as a great way to be even more neighbourly. I can't wait.”

About 10 million people nationally attended street parties to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Chris Gettings, director of campaign group Streets Alive, believes a similar number will replicate the festivities on April 29.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman confirmed it was expecting to have some guidance for residents on what to do in the New Year.

In the case of two-tier councils, the responsibility of road closure orders could fall on either the county or the borough/district authority.

Worthing Borough Council said all applications must be made at least 30 working days before the event and urged any group to take out public liability insurance to provide cover.

Lewes District Council requests eight weeks while Mid Sussex District Council asked for six weeks so it could consult with police and other bodies.

An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesman said: “If a number of similar requests for road closures are received at the same time the six week time-scale could be longer.

“We would like to stress that to avoid disappointment please leave plenty of time for your application to be processed.”

For more details email contact@streetsalive.org.uk or call 0117 922 5708.

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