WATCH: Message from UK PM as Gibraltar celebrates its National Day

GIBRALTAR is decked out in its colours of red and white as the  Rock celebrates celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum which saw the inhabitants of the Rock vote overwhelmingly in favour of remaining British.

National Day is celebrated annually on 10 September.

The official events begin with a children’s fancy dress competition followed by a street party at John Mackintosh Square where food and drink stalls are set up.

Later a school choir sings songs with a Gibraltar theme, namely Llévame Donde Nací and Virgencita de Europa.

This is followed by the main event, the Mayor’s recitation of the names of the recipients of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour and the reading of the Gibraltar National Day Declaration from the City Hall’s balcony.

Previously 30,000 red and white balloons, representing Gibraltar’s population, would have been released but no longer because of  the threat that it poses to wildlife and  marine wildlife in particular.

A funday for children featuring bouncy castles and fairground rides is held at Grand Casemates Square.

And there is live music all afternoon at Governor’s Parade (the Piazzella) and the Rock on the Rock Club, all free of charge.

The day culminates with a half-hour-long synchronised fireworks display released from the Detached Mole in the Gibraltar Harbour at night followed by a rock concert in Casemates Square.

PM wishes people of #Gibraltar a happy #GibraltarNationalDay pic.twitter.com/sxPj0QWuPl

— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) September 10, 2017