PREPARATIONS are under way for a riotous celebration of African fashion in Oxford next month, with volunteers are still needed to get the event on its feet.

The African Fashion Roots Oxford (AFROshow) event will include an exhibition, live catwalk performances, music, food and the chance to purchase African-inspired clothes.

With just over a month to go until the festivities organiser Laure Loutala Mpolo has been inundated with requests to help.

She said: "Tickets have been selling online and people have been calling from different places in the UK wanting to get involved.

"It's all taking shape now. Designers are coming from Paris and will start getting themselves sorted soon; it's all about practice and getting the buzz going on social media."

Mrs Loutala Mpolo, originally from Congo, set up the event after being asked by English friends where she got her clothes.

Designers - including 12 students from City of Oxford College - and models have now been sourced but more volunteers are still required.

The show itself will run on Saturday, April 30 at the Tingewick Hall venue in the John Radcliffe Hospital, with shopping from 1.30pm to 5pm and runway shows and entertainment from 6.30pm to 9pm. VIP tickets, which include a raffle ticket and a sparkling reception, cost £15 or regular tickets £10 from tinyurl.com/h6xfwng