WINDERMERE Lake Cruises' Victorian steamer Tern is to emerge from her winter refit in time for the Golden Jubilee.

The company's skilled craftsmen have been replacing the traditional wooden decking, and renovating the interior and hull of the vessel, which was built for Furness Railway Company in 1891.

To celebrate the Golden Jubilee, Windermere Lake Cruises will be giving commemorative medals to the children of each member of staff, and a limited quantity will also be given to children attending official street parties in Ambleside, Bowness, Windermere, Lakeside and neighbouring villages.

Any interested street party organisers should get in touch with public affairs officer Robin Martakies on 015394-33522.

The company is also running several special Golden Jubilee ticket offers.

Between June 10 and 28, family Freedom of the Lakes tickets will be on sale at £19.52 - the year Elizabeth came to the throne - instead of the usual £ 28.

Simply buy the ticket on the day of travel from booking offices at Ambleside, Bowness or Lakeside.

One thousand individual Freedom of the Lakes tickets will also be made available by ballot for 50p instead of £11.

Two hundred tickets are being set aside for groups of people who were alive at the time of the accession, such as pensioners' clubs, social clubs, voluntary groups, women's institutes, church groups and people living in sheltered housing; and 200 more tickets are for young people and their parents or carers.

A maximum of 25 tickets per group will be allocated.

To enter the ballot, write to Robin Martakies at Winder-mere Lake Cruises (Dept GTB), Media Office, Water-head, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0EY, with the name of the group, contact name and address, telephone number and number of tickets required.

Enclose an SAE.

The deadline is May 24, and no money should be sent.

Six hundred more individual tickets are also being offered at 50p, and successful applicants will receive one ticket only - send an SAE to the above address.