THE final preparations are being made for thousands of people to swarm Bicester's Sheep Street this weekend for one of the county's biggest street parties.

Bicester's Big Lunch is back for its sixth annual event on Sunday which a bill bursting with food, dance, music, games and family fun.

This year's theme is the 1950s and hopes to take residents back in time as the town centre celebrates all things community.

The event will open with the traditional church service at 11am on the main stage near the Sheep Street clock, before the live music kicks in from midday and the high street comes alive with local groups, stalls and traders pulling together to create a buzz in Bicester.

In the Sheep Street arena, there will be a performance from the Stagecoach dancers, Latino Dance UK, freestyle martial arts, Launton Rock Choir plus many more community groups.

On the main stage there are groups including Bangtail Feathers and Rhythm Street, as well as local talent on the Pioneer Stage including Mall Picket, Will Vetcher and Elesa Duggan.

Jason Slaymaker, part of organising team OneBicester which is a not-for-profit community group formed this past year, said: "Whilst you can still expect to see the huge street party that we have come to know and love, OneBicester have introduced a new concept this year – Bicester’s Little Lunches."

He added: "The ethos behind the Big Lunch is to prevent loneliness and isolation by bring people together to talk, enjoy a picnic and support each other.

"As the UK’s biggest Big Lunch event Bicester’s Big Lunch has been the flagship event for the last four years, being held up as an inspiration to aspiring Big Lunchers who want to hold their own event."

OneBicester has worked together with Cherwell District Council this year to encourage local residents to stage their own Little Lunch events in their neighbourhoods.

It can be as big or small as you like and is hoped to bring people together with the support of OneBicester providing advice and resources.

The main Bicester Big Lunch event will run from 11am to 5pm and anyone who is able to lend a hand as a volunteer can get involved via bicesterbiglunch.org.uk

This year's event sponsors include A2 Dominion, Atic, Bicester Healthy Town, Bicester Print, Bicester Town Council, Cherwell District Council, Churches in Bicester, CS Properties, Heyford Park Management, Hut Six Digital, Nicholls, OYAP Trust, Perch Co-Working Community, Sainsbury’s Bicester, Sam & Steve Documentary Photographers, Warrens Bakery and Your Letterbox.