Scores of colourful deckchairs will arrive on Cromer seafront over the bank holiday weekend - as the creative efforts of artists, families, students and businesses raise funds for charity.

It is the climax of a deckchair trail linked to the Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival.

Throughout the spring and summer 124 chairs have been on display around the two towns, brightening up shops and offices as well as giving families a test to explore the area to find them all.

The chairs have been painted, printed, and embroidered using craft skills after weeks of planning and work by more than 60 individual artists, 10 community groups and 20 schools as well as families, staff of local businesses.

Most are from North Norfolk, but the farthest flung is an entry by students from the Orkney Island off Scotland which has sprung from a link with local fishermen through the Cromer Crab Company.

On Sunday August 28 people will be able to see all the chairs in one place, as they are gathered at Cromer Pier forecourt for a big charity auction, where people can buy some of the stunning creations, which range from cartoons to crochet work, all with a seaside flavour.

Viewing and registration to bid begins at 10am with the sale starting at 2pm under the gavel of well-known charity auctioneer Martyn Fox.

It will raise funds to be split between the Fishermen's Mission and the RNLI lifeboat stations at Cromer and Sheringham.

Festival secretary Kate Royall said: 'The festival team is so excited to see all 124 wonderful deckchairs on display together and hope as many people as possible are able to come to the auction and support these wonderful charities.'

An estimated 20,000 people visited the main festival weekend in May for a range of events including a cookery theatre, music, dance, film, exhibitions, workshops, heritage displays, children's entertainment and a world pier crabbing competition.

An ITV crew filmed the festival in Cromer for a new Ade in Britain series, starring comedian Adrian Edmondson, to be aired this autumn.

Plans are already under way for the 2012 festival, where the trail will feature giant seaside postcards, with holes cut in for people to pop their heads through, and some beach Olympics.