Norfolk seaside town hopes the sun will shine for annual event

Hunstanton is gearing-up for this year's carnival which takes to the streets later this month.

With the theme of All That Glitters, the event will also be captured for posterity as part of a new digital archive being created specially for carnivals and processions.

Visitors are being asked to take along memorabilia from previous events for the digital archive being created in the eastern region.

Pictures, float designs, programmes, musical scores and other mementoes are all welcome and items such as Carnival Queen sashes can also be taken along to be photographed and added to the archive.

'It's all about the story and we are looking to create an archive which includes elements from the planning stages, such as minutes from meetings, as well,' said archive co-ordinator Cathie Davies.

A team from the project will be at the event and members are likely to return later this year to collect pictures and items from the 2012 parade.

Carnival day will start at 10am on Sunday, June 24, with a range of activities on the Green before the official opening at 11am.

This year 20 floats will be taking part in the parade which leaves the recreation ground at 1pm.

This year's carnival queen is Trudy Cooper and there are also three princesses and two princes: Charlie Melton and Lewis Cleland along with Sophie Horner, Eleanor Wood and Rebecca Wallace.

Carnival Day starts at 10am with stalls and activities on the Green all day. The programme also includes a performance by a choir from the John Ruskin Primary School, London; the John Giller Theatre Academy; local bands and the Crazy Bananas clown show.

'We have lots of local organisations taking part and the London choir contacted us because they are in the area for another performance and wondered if we would like them to sing. It should be a lovely occasion and all we need is for the sun to shine,' said Rita Caldicott, of the organising committee.