Kingston’s diamond jubilee beacon will be lit on a boat moored in the centre of the River Thames after plans to put it on a church were ruled out.

All Saints Church Kingston was forced to turn down Kingston Council’s request to have the borough’s diamond jubilee flame on top of its roof as it would be “impossible” to insure.

Mayor Mary Heathcote will light the flame on the Richmond Venturer on Monday, June 4, at about 10.15pm, moored in the centre of the River Thames opposite the Minima Yacht Club.

Members of the public will be able to get a view of the flame flickering into being by finding a viewing point along the Riverside Walk between Kingston Bridge and the Queen’s promenade.

The beacon is one of 4,000 across the UK to commemorate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

The Richmond Venturer, part of the River Thames Boat Project, is a charity designed to encourage access to the Thames for people of all ages and abilities.