A special two-day festival will take visitors back in time to the 1940s in Lowestoft.

From Punch and Judy to a traditional fun fair, vintage cars and live bands, the 1940s Festival Weekend will also see retailers dressing up and decorating their windows.

And ahead of the festival next Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28, Lowestoft Vision organised a competition for local primary schools to show off their creative talents.

The competition was for children in Years 3, 4 and 5, from Carlton Colville Primary School, Corton Primary School and Somerleyton Primary School to take part in a 'Lowestoft in the 40s' plate project. Children were given four subjects to choose from - Lowestoft during the Second World War, retail in the 40s, Hoseasons and the Royal Navy - to create artwork onto a template of a plate.

And Lowestoft Vision had the difficult job of choosing two winners from the entries.

The first winner was Isabella Tom, a Year 4 pupil from Carlton Colville Primary School who designed a plate of the old Tuttles store.

Charlotte Bowman, who led the project at the school, said: 'The children have really enjoyed learning about their local culture and how Lowestoft looked in the 1940s. They were amazed by some of the images they explored of the old town and how different it looked. The school is proud to be a part of this competition by Lowestoft Vision and we think it's great that children are exploring their locality and its history.'

The second winner was Alice Bowen from Corton Primary School with her colourful Hoseasons design.

Matt Smith, head of HR at Hoseasons, said: 'We're honoured that Lowestoft Vision chose Hoseasons as one of the subjects for the competition and equally delighted that Alice's brilliant design represents us so well.

'We're always on the lookout for creative young talent at Hoseasons and although at eight years old, Alice is a little young at the moment, we may well have a job for her in the future!'

The winning designs are currently being made into ceramic plates and will be on show at Beales Café along with all other entries from the schools throughout the festival.

The town centre will be split into five zones for the festival - Children's Village, Be-bop Avenue, Vintage Valley, Archive Avenue and Stomper Street - and will run from 10am to 5pm on May 27 and 11am to 3pm on May 28.

For more information visit www.discoverlowestoft.co.uk or pick up a leaflet from shops in Lowestoft.