The sun shone on a rainy day today as one market town used the power of colour and flavour to unite the community.

Wymondham's first Lemon Day transformed the market place and provided a boost to businesses and nearby trades while brightening up a drizzly winter day.

Shops this morning (Saturday) displayed yellow bunting and yellow items in their windows, people wore yellow clothes and yellow button holes and a yellow taxi drove tours of the town while cafes sold lemon products and a special market sold yellow goods.

Community groups were given a chance to promote themselves to visitors and entertainment was provided by Encore, formerly the South Norfolk Operatic Society, and dubbed the Yellow Songbirds for the day.

Organiser Tony Vale said the idea came from a Lemon Day he had previously held in his former role as a care home worker.

He added: 'I thought it was the perfect vehicle to bring the town together. People have wondered why the theme but it's an uplifting colour and it's a bit of spring in winter time.

'The businesses have led and we've said that if they are a catering business then lemon is a flavour but if not lemon is a colour and everyone can relate to that. It's been absolutely brilliant and the support has been tremendous.'

Mr Vale went on to say although the aim was not to raise money, any donations made would be given to the East of England Air ambulance.

Amongst the traders were the Fourth Wymondham Guides who arranged a yellow tombola to raise funds for their summer camp in Derbyshire next year, while Wymondham Rotary Club hoped to promote the idea of a food bank in the town.

Wife of the town's deputy mayor, Carol Foulger, also organised a tea-themed stall complete with a selection of yellow and lemon cupcakes.

'I think it's a delightful idea,' she said. 'We're pleased to support anything that attracts people to Wymondham.

'I think times have changed and more market towns have to think of new ideas to attract people.'

Chairman of south Norfolk council, Sue Thomson, who opened the event, added: 'It brings the community together which is always good and even on a rainy day you can see a lot of people have got together and worked hard. 'If it can bring extra people in on a wet Saturday morning it's good for business and it's good for everybody and it's a wonderful occasion.'