It's taken weeks to assemble with every item carefully selected from the full range in store.

Eastern Daily Press: Palmers department store in Great Yarmouth. David Howard, Palmers Managing Director. Picture: James BassPalmers department store in Great Yarmouth. David Howard, Palmers Managing Director. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2013)

But on Friday the wraps are off as Palmer's biggest ever anniversary competition gets underway in Great Yarmouth.

To celebrate 180 years in the town the independent department store has filled its main window with 180 items.

Spanning furniture and fashion, mugs and make-up people will be asked to decide what its all worth to be in with the chance of winning the lot.

Managing director David Howard said all the items were available in store and it was up to shoppers whether they hazarded a guess at the total or combed the shop with a calculator.

Mr Howard said the competition was the talk of the town already.

The contents will be unveiled at 9.15am on Friday and it's hoped local folk will turn out in support and be among the first to have a go at working out the cost.

Staff will be on hand to make sure the ceremony makes a splash, with balloons and badges and entry forms.

'I would like to think people will take a snap shot and look around the store and price it up,' he said.

Friday also sees the launch of the store's shopping festival with 20pc off throughout all departments including cosmetics until Wednesday.

Saturday is the main anniversary party day with live music, canapes, and drinks.

At 11am the mayor of Great Yarmouth Malcolm Bird will officially launch the celebrations in traditional style with a giant cake, cutting up enough to give everyone in store at the time a slice.

The Win the Window competition runs until May 29 and the winner will be announced May 30. The contents will be delivered to their home anywhere in the country.

If more than one person guesses the total correctly names will be drawn from a hat.

The original Palmers shop was opened by Garwood Burton Palmer in the reign of King William IV in 1837.

The business started as a linen mercer's and silk drapers in the Market Place which had been the busiest trading centre of Great Yarmouth for centuries.