A pub whose namesake is derived from royalty has had a lick of paint in blue, white and red, just in time for re-opening on May 17.

A wall in the beer garden of the British Queen on Duckworth Street in Darwen, has been adorned in Union Jack colours courtesy of the town's resident graffiti artist, Keiron 'Curly' Whitehead.

Keiron Curly Whitehead, Darwens resident grafitti artist has painted a huge Union Jack on the side of the British Queens beer garden ready for the pubs re-opening on May 17

Keiron 'Curly' Whitehead, Darwen's resident grafitti artist has painted a huge Union Jack on the side of the British Queen's beer garden ready for the pub's re-opening on May 17

Mr Whitehead became famous in the town after he painted a huge mural in tribute to the NHS on the side of the Crown Paint building last year, thanking them for their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

And now, the street artist has taken his brush and paint to the town's pubs, to provide them with a bit of colour before they re-open for indoor drinking and dining on May 17.

Keiron Curly Whitehead, Darwens resident grafitti artist has painted a huge Union Jack on the side of the British Queens beer garden ready for the pubs re-opening on May 17

Keiron 'Curly' Whitehead, Darwen's resident grafitti artist has painted a huge Union Jack on the side of the British Queen's beer garden ready for the pub's re-opening on May 17

Mr Whitehead said: "When I painted Crown Wall for the NHS, I removed Darwen's largest Union Jack, and possibly the county's, so to bring the title back, I've just recently painted a Union Jack graffiti for the British Queen pub.

"Technically it should now be the biggest Union Jack in Darwen."

Not wanting to leave some of Darwen's other pubs out, Mr Whitehead said he'll be starting another royal-themed mural at the Crown and Thistle over the weekend, and will then possibly be painting a football-themed mural at the Alexandra Hotel later in the week.

Keiron Curly Whitehead, Darwens resident grafitti artist has painted a huge Union Jack on the side of the British Queens beer garden ready for the pubs re-opening on May 17

Keiron 'Curly' Whitehead, Darwen's resident grafitti artist has painted a huge Union Jack on the side of the British Queen's beer garden ready for the pub's re-opening on May 17

A spokesperson for Thwaites, the brewery who owns the British Queen, said: "The British Queen in Darwen has been sprucing up their outdoor area ready for reopening on May 17, and blimey what a piece of art that is."

While a spokesperson for the British Queen added: "Absolutely loving the artwork in the beer garden.

"Thank you so much Keiron Curly Whitehead, we love it. Roll on May 17."