With less than a week to go until Cromer's eagerly anticipated 1960s Festival, preparations are in full swing.

North Norfolk News: Cromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (left) and fellow local shop owners mirroring the Beatles' famous Abbey Road album cover.Photo: KAREN BETHELLCromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (left) and fellow local shop owners mirroring the Beatles' famous Abbey Road album cover.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

And town traders are making sure they don't miss out on the fun, by decorating their shop windows with displays including sixties memorabilia ranging from Ban the Bomb symbols, to flower power fashions.

Local cafes and restaurants will also be serving up 1960s-style menus, with shop staff donning costumes ranging from hippy garb, to Mods and Rockers' outfits.

North Norfolk News: Scott Eltringham of JB Postle Electricals gets into character ready for the Cromer's 1960s Festival.Photo: KAREN BETHELLScott Eltringham of JB Postle Electricals gets into character ready for the Cromer's 1960s Festival.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Cromer Chamber of Trade and Business chairman Sam Grout, who owns the Old Rock Shop Bistro in Hamilton Road, said the event, which has been organised by Cromer Pier, promised to put the town on the entertainment map.

'It will really build on the links we have between the seafront and the town centre,' he added. 'It will complement what is already happening in the area and the more we promote the town as a whole, the more likely we are to draw people in to Cromer outside the key holiday season.'

North Norfolk News: Cromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (centre) and fellow local business owner Amy Worley get into the spirit of the swinging sixties.Photo: KAREN BETHELLCromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (centre) and fellow local business owner Amy Worley get into the spirit of the swinging sixties.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

A shop window competition organised by Leanne Wheedon, of Lune Boutique, in Church Street, and Ali Ewbank, of Happy Feet shoe shop, in Hamilton Road, will see shoppers asked to vote for their favourites via entry forms available all over the town, with all traders invited to join a fancy dress celebration on the main festival day on Saturday.

Mr Grout, who has a working 1960s jukebox in his restaurant, hoped the festival would become an annual event which would eventually grow to rival the North Norfolk Railway 1940s weekend, which attracts around 20,000 people to Sheringham and Holt every year.

North Norfolk News: Cromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (centre) and fellow local business owner Amy Worley get into the spirit of the swinging sixties.Photo: KAREN BETHELLCromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (centre) and fellow local business owner Amy Worley get into the spirit of the swinging sixties.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

'What we want to do is to make the festival a town-wide event, and the more Cromer businesses pull together, the more we all stand to benefit,' he said. 'What makes the 1960s such a big attraction is that it was such a fantastic era with a massive amount of variation in terms of fashion and music, so it has a very broad appeal.'

Cromer Vintage 1960s Festival kicks off on Friday, with the main festival day on Saturday coming to a close at 8pm with a show based on the hit West End musical All Or Nothing: The Mod Musical at the Pavilion Theatre. For tickets, and a full programme, visit www.cromerpier.co.uk or phone 01263 512595

North Norfolk News: Cromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (centre) and fellow local business owners gear up for the town's 1960s Festival.Photo: KAREN BETHELLCromer Chamber of Trade Chairman Sam Grout (centre) and fellow local business owners gear up for the town's 1960s Festival.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

North Norfolk News: Cromer traders Jayne Bowyer and Alison Ewbank try their flower power outfits for size, ready for the weekend's 1960s Festival.Photo: KAREN BETHELLCromer traders Jayne Bowyer and Alison Ewbank try their flower power outfits for size, ready for the weekend's 1960s Festival.Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)