Children will take to the beach as the tide comes in to launch the 44th Cromer Carnival.

The popular town event, with draws tens of thousands of people to Cromer, begins with the first of two children's weeks from Monday August 5.

It is launched with 'chalk on the prom', and includes sandcastle competitions, a treasure dig, beach sports, paint a stone, and a scavanger hunt.

Week two, beginning on Monday August 12, features events including crab catching, a tide fight, puppets on the prom and paper boat and plane racing.

The programme for the carnival proper - which is from August 17-23 - has now been published, and it includes an eye-catching new attraction - in the shape of wrestling.

The professional event is at 7.30pm in the carnival marquee on Runton Road on Sunday August 18.

In total, there will be more than 120 carnival events and activities, including a motorbike extravaganza, carnival car boot sale, craft fair, beer festival and events in the arena on the carnival field.

On the evening of Saturday August 17 there will be a concert in Cromer Parish Church by The River Falls Saxophone Quintet from the University of Wisconsin.

Events continue with the crowning of Miss Cromer, Jade Armstrong, on Sunday August 18 at the pier forecourt by Norfolk's own Olly Day.

Other returning favourites include the bonny baby competition, knobbly knees contest, glamorous grandmother competition, Waiter and Waitresses Race and the family fun day.

As usual, the grant finale on carnival day, Wednesday August 21, is the grand parade. Chairman Tony Shipp said he had been getting requests for entry forms 'since the beginning of the year'.

Friday evening, August 23, sees the popular fancy dress night. Tickets for the fancy dress dance go on sale on Saturday August 3 at 9am from Crossways Tobacconists in Cromer on a first-come, first served basis.

Extra train services will run between Norwich and Cromer on Carnival Day with an additional shuttle train service between Cromer and Sheringham.

The programme is available in shops or at www.cromercarnival.co.uk