GIRL Guides have celebrated the movement’s centenary with festivities and fireworks.

Thousands of Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from across north Essex held parties to mark the occasion.

In Colchester, nearly 1,500 girls joined in the celebrations and renewed their Guide promise as part of a nationwide event.

At Prettygate Junior School, in Plume Avenue, girls enjoyed a barbecue, arts and crafts activities and fireworks.

At St Benedict’s Catholic College, girls learned about the history of Guiding in north Essex and enjoyed blowing bubbles.

Helen Venn, spokeswoman for the Guides in north-east Essex, said: “The aim was to organise events which would remain in the memories of those attending for the rest of their lives. We hope people will look back on it and say ‘I was there’.”

Girls from 1st Lexden St Leonard’s and 1st Tey Rainbows celebrated with 16th-century music, dance, drama and pottery at Kentwell Hall, in Suffolk.

And in Halstead, 150 Guides and their families joined a torchlight parade down the High Street, then released balloons and sang camp fire songs in the public gardens before renewing their vows.