Fire, the abolition of slavery and the 1,000th anniversary of Oxfordshire have been chosen as this year's themes for the annual Cowley Road Carnival.

Last year's event, which was a food festival without a parade, attracted 20,000 people, but organisers East Oxford Action are bringing back the procession and expecting more people than ever to turn up on Sunday, July 1.

Ian Nolan, of East Oxford Action, said: "We have got the theme for the event, which is carrying on the 1,000 years of Oxfordshire celebrations to mark 1,000 years of arrivals.

"As East Oxford is such a culturally diverse area, we are really going to be looking at 1,000 years of arrivals to Oxfordshire.

"There will also be the theme of fire this year because in the past we have done earth, water and wind.

"There will also be references to the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in England."

The deadline to sign up to take part has now passed. Mr Nolan said a huge variety of individuals, groups, and traders would be involved.

He said: "We have had lots and lots of people interested so we are going to have some fantastic stalls.

"There is a whole range from community groups, information stalls and commercial stalls selling really exciting things."

Nine different areas will be set up along Cowley Road, with everything from a teddy bears' picnic featuring 1,000 bears, to circus workshops, street theatre and live music.

Mr Nolan said: "I woke up on Saturday night just having these images of thousands of people on the road.

"The fact that it's being closed again this year is a fantastic opportunity for people to really see how diverse East Oxford is and how it really is a fantastic representation of all the different cultures."

Events leading up to the big day are being planned.

These include two carnival workshops at the Bullingdon Community Centre, in Headington, on June 23 and 30, and an Italian puppet workshop led by artist Katie Bainart planned for June 24, at the Barracks Lane allotments.

Carnival band Soul Samba will play at the Zodiac, in Cowley Road, on May 11.