The fence is going up, the café is being repainted, and hundreds of workers are beginning the mammoth task of creating an arena fit for 25,000 people at Norwich's Earlham Park.

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The job of constructing the stage for Europe's biggest free festival has begun with a long stretch of perimeter fence beginning to surround the festival site.

And although the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend is just 10 days away, there is still one last chance for music fans to win tickets to see their favourite artists.

Some 50,000 people are due to attend the May 23 and 24 event, at which international stars such as the Foo Fighters, Muse and Taylor Swift will take to the stage.

And a handful of lucky music fans could join their favourite artist in front of thousands of people on the main stage, by entering a new Radio 1 competition next week.

Eastern Daily Press: Work gets underway in preparation for Radio 1's Big Weekend at Earlham Park. A huge fence is erected around the park, with access for park and café users. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYWork gets underway in preparation for Radio 1's Big Weekend at Earlham Park. A huge fence is erected around the park, with access for park and café users. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Listeners have been asked to call Radio 1 during DJ Nick Grimshaw's Breakfast Show next Monday to Thursday from 6.45am to 7.45am, to win a chance to introduce 5 Seconds of Summer, Rita Ora, Fall Out Boy and Taylor Swift.

The winner and a guest will be given free travel and accommodation.

And while young people have been at Open, Bank Plain, this week for a series of workshops as part of the Radio 1 Academy, Earlham Park is being transformed into a venue capable of hosting the impressive crowd.

Helen Selleck, Norwich City Council's culture and events manager, said: 'Radio 1 are on site at Earlham Park building the event infrastructure, so it's all coming together nicely after many months of hard work.'

Eastern Daily Press: Work gets underway in preparation for Radio 1's Big Weekend at Earlham Park. Painters spruce up the Earlham Café. Owner Ingrid Henry with painter Shaun Horide. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYWork gets underway in preparation for Radio 1's Big Weekend at Earlham Park. Painters spruce up the Earlham Café. Owner Ingrid Henry with painter Shaun Horide. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2015)

Yesterday the council team was taken on a tour of the Radio 1 Academy at Open.

Ms Selleck added: 'We're now in the final planning stages and the anticipation is building.'

Meanwhile, the Earlham Park Café, run by Ingrid Henry and her husband Hakan Torunogullari, is having a fresh paint of coat in preparation for the Big Weekend.

Mrs Henry, of Bluebell Road, said extra food and drinks were being ordered in, getting ready for the 25,000-strong crowd each day.

Eastern Daily Press: Work gets underway in preparation for Radio 1's Big Weekend at Earlham Park. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYWork gets underway in preparation for Radio 1's Big Weekend at Earlham Park. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2015)

She added: 'There have been lots of workmen coming in. The fence is going all around the park.'

She said the café would be serving a limited menu over the weekend, focusing on burgers, chips and ice cream.

'We're hoping for a front-row seat,' she added.

Although the site will be under construction in the next week, park visitor access to the café will be maintained until next Friday.

The car park has been relocated further inside the park, and there are signs on site directing visitors.

Listen to the Radio 1 Breakfast Show for details on how to enter the competition.

How are you celebrating the Big Weekend? Tweet your pictures and memories to #edp24 or #en24.