More than 10,000 visitors are expected to converge on the coast on Sunday to watch the town's rescheduled New Year's Day celebrations.

Up to 10,000 people are expected to converge on Cromer this weekend for the rearranged New Year's Day fireworks display.

It is the biggest free event of its kind in Britain and, with parking space limited, organisers are urging visitors to arrive early to ensure they don't miss out.

The annual display gets underway on the town's pier on Sunday, January 8, at 5pm.

How did it start?

The annual firework display was set up by a group of volunteers alongside Cromer Town Council in 2000 as a way for the townsfolk of Cromer to see in the new millennium. It soon outgrew its location at one of the town's local parks and the team had the bold vision of moving the display to its, now traditional, location on the town's iconic pier.

The display is now arranged by the Town Council via a working group of community volunteers comprised primarily of Town Councillors, members of Cromer V.E.O. Ltd and North Norfolk District Council.

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The 2017 display

The show is 13 and a half minutes long with 27 sequences synchronising 333 cues delivering 2,464 Fireworks. There are nine positions controlled by 15 hardened computers leading to 4 firing computers via 1850m of cable.

The show took 1.5 days to choreograph, 6 days to prepare offsite and will require six personnel on site on the day - who will consume 25 cups of coffee, five herbal teas and a bucket full of doughnuts.

A green signal shell will now precede the 2017 display to signify the maroon which was launched to mark the rescue of The Fernebo by Cromer Lifeboat in 1917, for which Henry Blogg was awarded his first of three Gold Medal. This coming Sunday is the eve of the 100th anniversary of that rescue.

How long does it take to set the event up on the day?

The day's work starts at 8am when a team from Titanium Fireworks pull up at the pier forecourt to unload the fireworks and doesn't end until the counting of the bucket collection is complete, often not until 8pm.

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How long does it take to plan and put together the event?

The Firework committee, made up entirely of volunteers, meets at regular points throughout the year to plan the event, together with representatives from Cromer Town Council, Titanium Fireworks, the fire service, police, RNLI, Cromer Pier, Cromer Church, Coastguards, St John Ambulance, North Norfolk Beach Runners, North Norfolk District Council and Cromer Carnival.

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What does the bucket collection raise money for?

The event is free, however money raised from the bucket collection is divided between local good causes and funding the following year's display (together with money from Cromer Town Council).

The bucket collection at the 2016 display raised a fantastic £12,409.34, from which £8,258.20 was given out in grants to local good causes and the balance has been used towards funding the 2017 display.

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Who can apply for a grant?

Local organisations based in Cromer can apply for a grant. Applications open after the display has taken place and are awarded at Cromer's Annual Town Meeting in March.

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How much has the display generated for good causes over the years?

Since 2000 more than £45,000 has been donated to local good causes from monies raised by the bucket collection.