Decision to light beacon for the Queen at Southwater not The Wrekin is defended

Telford & Wrekin Council said they wanted to make sure as many people as possible could enjoy the spectacle.

It added that this year was the first time the lighting of a beacon has been organised by the council, and that it does not own The Wrekin – so Southwater was selected instead.

Nigel Newman, a spokesman for the council, said: "While The Wrekin is an iconic landmark, it is a very challenging place for any event particularly with limited access and parking and very importantly is not council-owned land.

Telford & Wrekin Council tweeted this video:

"However the key part of our consideration was to make our event accessible for as many people as possible, which The Wrekin is not and we felt that Southwater presented the ideal backdrop for the beacon as part of the national programme."

"We also had a 50-piece school band who were a key part of the beacon ceremony that everyone attending enjoyed and it would have been extremely difficult to get them up the Wrekin with all of their instruments."

Dozens of people attended the beacon lighting on Thursday, which also saw performances by the Abraham Darby Academy Band.

The beacon itself was lit by the outgoing leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Councillor Kuldip Sahota and was watched by invited guests include Wing Commander Darren Thorley from RAF Cosford, Colonel Richard Mayberry, Deputy Commander of 11th Signal & West Midlands Brigade, Telford MP Lucy Allan and members of Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet.

Councillor Leon Murray, mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin, gave a short address before the band played the national anthem.

The ceremony was timed to to join with Her Majesty lighting the nation's Principal Beacon at Windsor Castle.

Thousands were then lit across the country at churches, farms, council parks, village greens, country estates, lighthouses as well as at National Trust and English Heritage properties.