Cyberpace gear, sexy clubwear and tight fitting spangly pants will be the order of the day as 15,000 clubbers descend on the county for the biggest party of the summer festival season, writes Nick Evans.

The Mezzanine May Day Ball, which takes place at Milton Common on Sunday and May Day Monday, boasts a host of top name DJs including Judge Jules, Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling as well as ex-culture clubber turned jock, Boy George.

Other masters of the arts of spin include Jeremy Healy, Dave Pearce, Goldie and Scanty Sandwich.

All the DJs will be spinning the vinyl in one of five themed marquees dotted around the massive 65,000 sq metre site.

Current chart favourites Death in Vegas will also be playing an exclusive one-hour set during which they will showcase their new single "Dirge2", taken from the acclaimed album "The Contino Rooms" and follow-up to the smash hit "Aisha" which charted in February. Also included in the entertainment will be a funfair complete with dodgems and waltzers and a casino.

A special Mayday Ball replica of Magdalen Bridge will also be erected in the shape of a 200ft bungee jump for partygoers who don't want to risk leaping off the real thing.

Organisers have re-vamped the dress code for this year's ball to bring it more up to date and the stuffy restraints of dinner jackets, cummerbunds and ballgowns have been unceremoniously ditched.

However promoter Charlie Chester still wants ballgoers to make an effort. He said: "The May Day Ball has always been seen as the most prestigious outdoor event in the summer calendar and we want the crowd to reflect that.

"We're not saying don't dress up because that's not what it's all about, you've got to make as much effort as if you were visiting your usual club. But how can people be expected to dance for 12 hours in a ballgown or dinner jacket it's just not practical." The Mezzanine Ball will also provide the launchpad for the new interactive Space Pod, a state-of-the-art photo booth that takes pictures and converts them into e-mail postcards.

The pod allows clubbers to take their snaps and e-mail them directly to friends around the world or in other clubs.

Other attractions at the ball will include a Sega Dreamcast arena, a full-size rally car game and a world food tent, including delicacies from India, China and Greece.

Tickets for the ball are on sale now priced 34. They are available from HMV and Tower Record stores and by calling 0115 912 9230. Many of the partygoers are expected to attend the traditional May Day celebrations at Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, on Monday morning when the choir from Magdalen College Cathedral School sing from the top of the tower.