Businesses in Wymondham are throwing their support behind a new community initiative to brighten up the coming wintry days.

The final countdown to Lemon Day is drawing near which will see the town centre's historic streetscape transformed into a continuous wave of yellow with beautiful bunting.

Workers are also encouraged to don brightly coloured clothes, display yellow items in shop windows and host their own lemon-themed activites.

It is hoped the fun event, which will take place on November 5, will attract visitors to the town centre and provide a boost for local businesses and community groups.

The focus of the day will be the sale of lemon-flavoured or yellow-coloured items during a special market between 10am and midday.

There will also be a Yell Zone where local organisations will be given two minutes to promote their work.

Meanwhile Wymondham Rotary Club and Rosedale Funeral Service have offered sponsorship which will allow 100 shop and office workers to have a yellow buttonhole on the day, supplied by Jasmine florists, based in Wood Avens Way.

Haberdashers Needlecraft, in Town Green, are also supplying sewing kits for businesses wishing to make their own bunting.

Handbag and Leather, which incorporates First Footing shoe retailers, is offering a discount voucher for every pair of yellow Wellington boots which are brought to the shop in Fairland Street between now and Lemon Day. These will then be donated to a local charity shop.

Waitrose is also offering specially prepared lemon food hampers for �20 to any business that would like to run a community raffle on the day.

Cyclists are encouraged to take part by riding into Wymondham with high visibility yellow clothing and the first 30 visitors to Howard's Cycles, in Back Lane, will be rewarded with a free yellow t-shirt, donated by Active Norfolk.

The cycle shop will also be the start and drop-off point for a Yellow Cab, sponsored by Tan Cars, which will take visitors around some of the town's iconic sites, including Beckets Chapel, the Green Dragon pub and Wymondham Abbey.

Tony Vale, Lemon Day co-ordinator, said he was delighted with the response from businesses and community groups, but added there is still time for more to get involved.

On the lemon theme, he added: 'It's a flavour that the food outlets can be associated with, but it is also an uplifting colour at the time of year when the clocks will have just been put back for winter.'

Anyone wishing to take part can contact Tony Vale on 01953 605434 or email tony@valemail.eu