THE Queen is to tour Blackburn and the Ribble Valley on Thursday May 25 as part of her 80th birthday celebrations.

The trip, during which she will be accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, was confirmed on the day that Her Majesty celebrates her 80th birthday.

It will mark a return to one of the Queen's favourite regions she has previously said she would love to retire to the Ribble Valley and it will be her fifth visit since her coronation in 1953.

The day-long trip will be the most prominent visit the Queen has ever made to Blackburn and the first since 1987 with opportunities to meet many local families.

Her last visit to the Ribble Valley was in October 1990, when she opened new premises at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.

Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "I am absolutely delighted that Her Majesty is coming to Blackburn.

"There will be special excitement about her visit in view of the celebrations around her 80th birthday."

It is understood that the visit will start when she arrives in Blackburn by train.

After walking along the Boulevard, meeting and greeting the public, she will be shown the redevelopment of Church Street before going to The Mall shopping centre, where she will unveil a plaque to mark the start of its £50million re-development.

She will then visit the Trough of Bowland where it is believed she will meet tenant farmers on farms that she owns as part of the Duchy of Lancaster, in Whitewell and in Dunsop Bridge.

Her Majesty will be treated to a private lunch with invited guests at the award-winning Inn at Whitewell, which she also owns as part of the Duchy.

Already security preparations for her high profile visit are underway and every school in Blackburn with Darwen is to be asked to provide two pupils to meet and greet her on her visit to Blackburn.

Superintendent Warren Turner, head of operations for Eastern Division, said: "Detailed police plans for the Royal visit are currently being formulated.

"Our intention is to put in place the right level of police operation and security to help local people feel reassured so they can enjoy this very special occasion."

Royal biographer Sarah Bradford revealed in her book, Elizabeth, that the Queen said she would love to retire to the Ribble Valley with the likely location being Whitewell.

Members of the Royal family have stayed at the Inn at Whitewell before and have enjoyed what the East Lancashire countryside has had to offer.

Prince Charles has previously ridden with the Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt and was last in the region in January 2003.

HRS The Duke of York visited Clitheroe in July 2004 and the Countess of Wessex last September.

With AA Rosettes for fine dining, the Inn at Whitewell's menu will be fit for the Queen.

Offerings could include Roast breast of wood pigeon with a little game pie, potato puree and juniper favoured jus or Roast Loin of Bowland Lamb with potato gallette, soft onions, and carrots and cumin seed puree.

And Her Majesty may not be able to resist sampling the Inn at Whitewell's famous home-made sticky toffee pudding which would certainly receive the Royal seal of approval.