A top secret celebrity guest and a plush new throne are set to be the star attractions at Sheringham carnival next year.

Organisers are already busy preparing for the week long extravaganza and are now keeping their fingers tightly crossed that their musical VIP will be able to make it along.

Carnival chairman Stuart McClean could not reveal who was being lined up to head the festival entertainment but hoped to confirm their appearance in the next few weeks.

He said: 'We might have something a bit more spectacular on the Saturday but we can't actually give a nod of approval for that one yet. Obviously if the special guest comes off that's going to be immense.'

But he was able to disclose details of one of the event's new attractions - a �500 throne, originally from Thailand, that will be used to crown 2012's carnival queen. The regal chair, which was ex-display furniture originally priced at �1,300, is now on show at Olivia's in Church Street.

Mr McClean added: 'It's absolutely magnificent. I said we need this, it's going to be a good promotion for the carnival so I got ten people within the town to sponsor it for �50. We took it to Olivia's shop and the amount of people who were commenting on it as we carried it through the street was unbelievable.'

Attractions from last year's event will return again in 2012 including the raft race, parade and street races, which will run under the theme - A Celebration of Britain Through the Ages. Committee members chose the theme specifically so it would fit in with the national events taking place next year, including the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics.

Mr McClean said the event would be sticking to its aim of putting Sheringham on the map and hopes next year's festival will attract more people to the town.

'We're going to carry on down that road and try and get a bit of unity in the town once again,' he added. 'We won't be having any outside traders coming in, it's to promote Sheringham.

'The committee has swollen by a few numbers because they saw the effort was put in (this year) and it was a success. And hopefully it will be even more successful next year.'

The carnival will run from July 28 to August 5, with a grand firework display planned to finish off the festivities.