Blue Peter viewers to pick Queen's Jubilee logo

THE Queen's official 2012 Diamond Jubilee emblem will be chosen by a nationwide children's competition.

The search to find the design will be launched tomorrow on Blue Peter and thousands of drawings are expected to flood into the BBC programme which is running the event.

The winning logo will be used on a range of items from London buses to crockery in the run up to the milestone and during the year. The competition is the first announcement by Buckingham Palace of a project to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

The government has already said there will be an extra bank holiday to help create an extended weekend in June 2012, which will provide a focal point for celebrations, while Greenwich in London will become a royal borough to mark its association with the monarchy.

In June it was announced Prince William will become patron of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields challenge - an initiative to create and protect hundreds of playing fields - in tribute to his grandmother.

The Queen began her reign on 6 February 1952 after the death of her father George VI.

The emblem design will be chosen from the winners of three age categories six to eight-year-olds, nine to w11-year-olds and 12 to 14-year-olds.