Applications for all the usual weird and wacky floats to join this year's Lord Mayor's Show parade are now being accepted.

Every year the colourful and creative floats that make up the Lord Mayor's parade are the focus of the celebrations, with thousands of people lining the streets of the city centre to cheer them on. Schools, community groups and businesses alike all get involved to raise money for charity and have a bit of fun.

Helen Selleck, culture and events manager at Norwich City Council, said: 'The Lord Mayor's parade is the biggest attraction over the celebration weekend. It covers a huge area of the city and is just so much fun. It really is a case of the more the merrier. The more floats there are the more there is for people to see and people on the floats will get more support from the crowds.'

Previous years have seen the likes of a pirate ship, Alice in Wonderland and dancing queens taking part.

This year's procession is on Saturday, July 9, from 5pm and money raised from the event goes to the Norwich City Council civic charity, which this year is Rotary House for the deaf.

Meanwhile voting closes on the choice of film to be screened on the big screen on Chapelfield Plain this Friday. The Jungle Book, The Sound of Music and Shrek are vying for votes on www.norwich.gov.uk

Applications for a float must be sent in by Tuesday, June 14. For an application form, or to find out how you can get involved, contact the events team on 01603 212136, visit the Norwich City Council events page on Facebook, or go to the events page at www.norwich.gov.uk You can request a hard copy form by calling the same number, emailing gloriaoragbon@norwich.gov.uk or by downloading the application form from the council's website.

The full programme for the Lord Mayor's Show celebrations, which run from July 7 to 10, will be available from the beginning of May. For more information contact Gloria Oragbon 01603 212136.

Are you planning something unusual for the parade? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or on email at david.freezer@archant.co.uk