HUNDREDS of people lined the streets as the Queen took up her permanent seat at Bexleyheath Clock Tower on Sunday.

The annual civic parade travelled from Christ Church along Broadway during the morning before the £20,000 bust was unveiled at midday by the borough’s Deputy Lieutenant Major David Hewer.

News Shopper's photographer followed the parade throughout the day and captured the moment the statue was officially unveiled - click here for our gallery.

Addressing the crowds as the statue was unveiled, Major Hewer said: “You may recall my drawing your attention to the empty niche above me last year, asking if you thought that it should be filled with something.

“Your response left little doubt that you thought so, and so the appeal to fund the creation and installation of a bust of the Queen was launched.

“Over the course of the last year we have been able to identify the ideal sculptor, Frances Segelman, and the public appeal for funds has succeeded in raising the money to cover all costs.

“We are especially indebted to Bexley Schools and to Bexley business, in particular to Ross Paton and Mr Ian Payne for all their efforts in this respect.

“I cannot stress enough that the result has not been achieved by using your council taxes.

“This bust truly is a gift to Her Majesty from the people of Bexley and, as Her Representative, it is my great pleasure and privilege to now unveil it on her behalf.”

Bexleyheath is now the only town in the country to have a statue of Her Majesty, which was commissioned to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

A charity appeal was launched during last year's civic parade and the fundraising campaign was organised by the Bexleyheath Business Improvement District.

The history of the Clock Tower

AFTER nearly a year of planning the foundation stone for the Clock Tower, in Market Place, was laid on January 8 1911.

It was officially unveiled on July 17 1912 to commemorate the Coronation of King George V the previous year.

Businesses and shops decorated their premises with bunting and ‘God Save the King’ banners were hung outside buildings.

The ceremony began at 12.30pm when members of the council, religious bodies and the Fire Brigade met at the council offices and marched to the Clock Tower.

They were met by Boy Scouts, Boy’s Brigade, school children and the wives of the councillors and other guests.

The Clock Tower was designed by architect Walter Epps, costing around £590, and was intended to stand "as a memorial to the enterprise and loyalty of the inhabitants of Bexleyheath" and it was thought the landmark "would be the beginnings of better things to come in Bexleyheath".

At the opening ceremony a bust of King George V was unveiled in the west alcove.

Mr Epps ended his speech with: "I hope to see all the niches filled with busts of members of the Royal Family".

During the 1930s the bust of King George disintegrated and then completely fell apart during cleaning after World War Two.

It was recast by Bexleyheath resident, John Ravera, and a President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, and re-installed in its niche.

On January 18 1997 a bust of William Morris, who lived at Red House, was unveiled in the east alcove to commemorate the centenary of his death in 1896.

A bell was installed on June 17 1913 but in August 1914 the Defence of the Realm Act banned the ringing of bells for fear they might be used by German spies to convey secret messages. It did not ring again until the year 2000.

A jar was also placed under the foundation stone to explain to any future explorer how Bexleyheath celebrated the coronation of King George V.