CELEBRATORY crowds turning out in Chester city centre for the royal visitors on Thursday are urged to be aware of an air raid-esque siren sound at noon.

Thousands of revellers are expected to descend on the Town Hall Square for the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, with the royal visitors expected to be in Chester around lunchtime.

But those attending should be aware of a pre-planned minute's silence – in memory of all those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster one year ago – which will be held at noon.

To mark the beginning and end of the minute's silence, a siren will sound out across Town Hall Square.

The Queen and the Duchess of Sussex are to visit and officially open Storyhouse on Thursday, taking in a tour of the building and witnessing a range of community groups and performers put on various displays.

The royal duo will then walk from Storyhouse to Chester Town Hall, where they will attend a lunch as guests of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The Chester siren has been used before to mark occasions such as the two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday in the city centre.