Organisers of the annual Oxford Lord Mayor's Parade have promised to make the day one to remember -- after last year's event was branded a let-down.

The colourful celebration marks the start of incoming Lord Mayor Jim Campbell's one-year term of office and sees a procession of floats through the city centre.

It will start at 11am in Banbury Road on Bank Holiday Monday, May 29, ending with fundraising stalls and entertainment in South Park.

Last year, charities criticised organisers for moving the date and location of the parade, claiming they lost out on vital funds because it was so poorly attended.

The city council -- which took over running the parade from Oxford Isis Lions Club in 2005 -- came under fire for moving the date from Bank Holiday Monday to Sunday, and the stalls to Oxpens Park, off Oxpens Road.

This year, the council will only be responsible for the parade side of the day, while the Lions will organise the entertainment in the park, which starts at noon.

Outgoing Lord Mayor of Oxford Bob Price said this year would be different. He said: "It should be a real return to the old style Lord Mayor's Parade.

"The idea is to restore it to its former glory after last year, which was not a good example of what the city council can do."

Attractions in South Park will include Hebborn's funfair, charity stalls, and for the first time live bands will be performing in a special arena, with names yet to be announced.

A mass jog round the park -- part of a national series of Everyday Sport Jogathons -- will also take place.

Club president Marion Stockton urged anyone interested in having a stall, performing in the arena or sponsoring the Lions gala day to email oxfordisis@tiscali.co.uk.

She said: "We now have just 11 weeks to pull the event together. We're a handful of volunteers with full time jobs, so we'll be working very hard, in our spare time, over the next few weeks."

There will be 20 Everyday Sport Jogathons across the UK from April to October.

The 5k or 1,500m distance events are being organised by Sport England in a bid to kickstart the nation into becoming more physically active.

The jogathon costs £12 for adults and £8 for children. Sponsorship from the events will be channelled into helping athletes via the SportsAid charity.

For more information, visit www.everydaysport.com or www.jogathon.co.uk.