WHEN it comes to celebrations for the Queen's golden jubilee this year, one Bexley housing estate is thinking big ... REALLY BIG.

People living on the Larner Road estate, in Erith, have been working hard, with others, to clean up the once notorious tower block estate and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Now they want to put the finishing touches to the transformation.

They want to change the name of the estate to the Golden Jubilee Estate and rename its two roads Waterhead Close and Larner Road Princess Margaret Close and Elizabeth Road.

The Larner Road Community Association has already written to the Queen asking for her "gracious permission" for the changes. Association chairman Dianne Joyce told the Queen they wanted to make the changes "to honour your reign". She added: "We understand this is a very sad time for you."

If the idea gets the thumbs up from Her Majesty, all the tenants on the estate will be canvassed for their views.

The estate is already planning a two-day celebration of the jubilee in June with craft stalls, food, children's attractions, competitions and a disco for adults in the evening. The community association is hoping local groups and businesses will get involved.

First reactions to the plan have been positive. Bexley Council, which would have to agree to the road name changes, said it would normally only be allowed because existing names were creating problems.

But a council spokesman conceded it was a special situation and said Bexley would be prepared to look at the idea. The Royal Mail and all the emergency services would have to be consulted and agree to the change.

One thing in the estate's favour is that there are currently no other roads in the borough called Princess Margaret or Elizabeth.

Orbit (Bexley) Housing Association, which now owns the estate, has said it is interested in pursuing the idea and would look at it sympathetically if all the tenants were in favour.

Maisie Jamieson, chairman of the Erith Town Forum, also welcomed the idea. "The residents and Orbit have been working really hard to change things on the estate and I think the name change would be a good idea. I don't think Bexley has anything else to permanently mark the golden jubilee."

The community association is now awaiting a reply from the Queen and is making formal requests to Bexley and Orbit for the changes.