Racers are fine tuning their machines for the annual Big Botesdale Soap Box Grand Prix, which will return on bank holiday Monday.

Organisers are expecting another bumper crowd of around 2,000 people for the charitable event that will bring the village near Diss to a standstill on August 29.

The main street in Botesdale will be closed at midday and an army of helpers will transform the road into 'something reminiscent of the Monaco grand prix', said organiser Chris Burnard, who runs the Greyhound pub.

The racing will begin at 1.30pm with dozens of contraptions racing down the hill for the seventh annual soap box event.

Each entrant is given two runs down the course in the time trials with the top eight going through to the heats. Around 15 children's carts have also been entered.

Almost �600 was raised from race sponsorship, street collections and car parking last year, with all proceeds being split between village causes and East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

The village chip shop and Chinese takeaway will be opening and there will be a hog roast and ice cream van.