Beatles fans ready to celebrate Abbey Road anniversary

Beatles fans were today gearing up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of one of the most famous album covers ever.

On August 8, 1969, The Fab Four walked across a zebra crossing in St John's Wood, north London, for an image caught on the cover of their classic album 'Abbey Road'.

Every day, fans from around the world go to the crossing to walk in the footsteps of their heroes and see the studios where the group recorded most of their songs.

Those photographed on the crossing have included politicians and musicians of all kinds.

At 11.35am tomorrow, fans will cross Abbey Road exactly 40 years to the minute since the Beatles.

They will be led across by Beatles tribute band Sgt Pepper's Only Dartboard Band, who will be wearing replicas of the clothes the Beatles wore four decades earlier.

The tour will be led by Richard Porter, a professional Beatles tour guide and owner of the Beatles Coffee Shop at St John's Wood Underground station.

The tour starts at Marylebone station at 9.20am.

Mr Porter said: "There is no need to book, just turn up at the meeting point."