THE residents of Kinson declared independence from Bournemouth when the people appointed grandparents Rose and Harry Watts as their king and queen.

But civil unrest wasn't ever going to be an issue as the move was only part of the Kinson Millennium Festival that took part in August 2000.

The event kicked off with a fun day at Pelhams Park that included the crowning of the new monarchy, chosen because of their charity work.

The Dolphin Marching band played a fanfare, Bournemouth Scouts temporarily changed their name to Kinson Wolf Cubs, and muscle-bound men pulled a nine-ton Wiltshire and Dorset bus along Truman Road.

The week-long series of events culminated in an outdoor Songs of Praise style workshop.