THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to Sheep Street and help fly the flag for Her Majesty's birthday for a lunch which could rival even that on The Mall.

The annual Bicester Big Lunch is back and promising to be bigger than previous years which has attracted around 5,000 people to the town centre to pull up a seat and tuck in.

Balloons, bunting and benches will line the streets on Sunday, June 12, and this year will include a special royal theme among its schedule of events to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's 90th Birthday.

One of the organising team Tia Wedgewood said: "This year's Bicester Big Lunch will have a British theme in honour of The Queen's birthday.

"There will be the usual live music all day across two stages and there will be lots going on in Sheep Street, Pioneer Square and this year it will extend towards Franklins House.

"Along there will be lots of dance performances and martial arts displays."

The Big Lunch initiative is a country-wide event which hopes to bring communities and neighbours together in typical British fashion for an afternoon of tea, sandwiches and cakes.

Organisers last year said that the community event cost around £10,000 to set up and is done entirely through donations and fundraising by the Bicester Big Lunch committee throughout the year.

This year promises to be a bumper feast of events and performances with the Bicester churches open air service from 11am, a host of food, local stall holders, charities and community groups plus a street food market.

Ms Wedgewood added: "This time we have also included a crown parade at 3pm as part of the design and make your own crown competition.

"There will be workshops to make your own crowns and we are looking for homemade crowns as well, there will be spot prizes for the best ones.

"We are hoping for a crown conga in Sheep Street."

As an addition to the usual lunch festivities, the Bicester Big Lunch team is also hosting The Queen's 90th Birthday Concert the day before the lunch.

The best of British acts will be performing on Saturday, June 11, from 6pm to 10pm at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre of the A41.

The show will feature hits from the 1950s through to the 21st century and invites families along with their picnics and blankets to enjoy a night on the lawn amongst a whole host of music.

It will be free entry and includes a free shuttle bus from the town centre to Bicester Avenue.