More than 1,000 beacons were set ablaze across the UK to celebrate The Queen’s 90th birthday.

But, at the same time, this was the scene at a eerily deserted Castle Hill.

The beacon basket close to the iconic Victoria Tower – Huddersfield’s Royal landmark – was shrouded in darkness.

While hundreds of people celebrated Her Majesty’s birthday in Mirfield and Emley, Kirklees Council came under fire for refusing to join the party.

Perched on the historic site of an iron age hill fort, Victoria Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee of 1897.

Beacon lit at Castle Hill to mark the anniversary of VE Day.

While the basket was last lit to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day last May, there was no celebration for Victoria’s great-great granddaughter, Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

Well over 500 people turned up on a hillside at Crossley Farm in Mirfield for a roaring beacon bonfire while there was a more modest celebration in Emley.

While Kirklees played party pooper, neighbouring Calderdale Council entered into the spirit lighting its basket on Beacon Hill in Halifax.

Mirfield’s celebration, in a farmer’s field and organised in just five weeks, was officially endorsed by the Royal Family and was part of the official beacon chain.

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Led by Mirfield Town Council, Mirfield Round Table and community group My Mirfield the night finished with a professional fireworks display.

Organiser Clr Martyn Bolt, a Kirklees Tory councillor and former mayor, said Victoria Tower should be a focal point for Kirklees.

But when he heard there was no official beacon in the district he pulled together a small team of volunteers for an event in Mirfield that probably cost no more than £2,000.

“I am sure people in Huddersfield will feel let down by the Kirklees Cabinet when we showed what can be done in the space of just five weeks,” said Clr Bolt.

“Castle Hill already has the beacon basket and if Kirklees was concerned about the costs they should have followed our model by going to community groups.”

While Mirfield’s event got plenty of praise there were complaints on social media that the 10-minute firework display at just before 9pm was “too loud.”

Parents complained at the noise on a school night while the explosions sent some dogs barking mad!

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A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “At a time when we have reduced budgets for cultural activities in Kirklees, the council makes decisions about which events to support based on the amount of impact they will have when compared to the cost of arranging them.

“Beacon lighting only attracts a small audience and has a limited impact. As such it wasn’t considered to be a priority.

“The council is, however, planning some public events in Dewsbury and Huddersfield to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s official birthday in June.”