IT WILL be the stunning highlight of the nation's Golden Jubilee celebrations and the Daily Echo wants to help a lucky local family of readers get the best seats in the house.

The Golden Jubilee national celebrations take place in The Mall in London on June 3 and 4 and are the centrepiece of the Queen's Golden Jubilee year.

A roster of stars fit for a Queen are lined up to entertain the nation with a concert in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, which is also the scene for a large number of colourful tributes to her 50-year reign.

With our fantastic competition you can have ringside seats for all of it. The winners will get special seats in The Mall, opposite the Queen Victoria Memorial, to enjoy the festivities. Winners will also be able to enjoy the pop concert outside Buckingham Palace featuring music legends such as Sir Paul McCartney and Tom Jones.

The VIP tickets will also give prime position to watch the Queen light the national beacon and the spectacular son et lumire fireworks, which are planned to wrap up the evening on Monday, June 3.

The next day our lucky winners will again be in VIP seats to enjoy the national festival of Jubilee parades, representing the many groups which have served the Queen during her 50-year reign. Among them will be groups from the Commonwealth, the Golden Jubilee Gospel Choir, representatives of Notting Hill Carnival and many others.

The winners will also watch the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh make a balcony appearance on June 4 to conclude the festivities.

To make the occasion truly memorable, the prize includes family accommodation, return travel and entry to a string of top heritage sights in London.

Buckingham Palace is running the competition, with the Newspaper Society, across the country with 50 family tickets, each consisting of two adults' and two children's tickets, up for grabs. Organisers have arranged the competition so winners, who will be pulled out of a hat, come from across the UK.

HOW TO ENTER: Simply fill out the coupon in the Southern Daily Echo on 2 May 2002 and send it to: Daily Echo Golden Jubilee Competition, PO BOX NO: 28428, London N19 5WZ. Entries must be received by Friday May 10 and winners will be informed by phone or by letter by Monday May 13.