It's colourful celebration time at Dereham this week as the town's parish church stages a major flower festival with more than 50 arrangements interpreting some of life's special milestone occasions.

It's colourful celebration time at Dereham this week as the town's parish church stages a major flower festival with more than 50 arrangements interpreting some of life's special milestone occasions.

Let's Celebrate is the theme of the festival which is aimed at giving a blooming marvellous start to a fundraising project to replace the lighting system in the building.

Cash raised during the four-day event will go towards the estimated �50,000 cost of providing a complete new lighting scheme. The current system has been in place for more than 25 years and is badly in need of an update.

Joint flower designers, Val Fisher and Ann Parnell, have come up with a colourful variety of celebration ideas for the arrangements. These include the 125th anniversary of Dereham Football Club, man's first landing on the moon 40 years ago, Graduation Day, Christmas and New Year and a welcome to the parish's new team rector, the Rev Sally Theakston.

Flower Festival committee chairman said Dereham Flower Club members and members of the church will be working their green nimble-fingered magic to create stunning arrangements.

'I would strongly urge the public to make a point of visiting the festival because they will not be disappointed,' said Mr Ovenden.

Mrs Fisher and Mrs Parnell said they were grateful for all the help they had been given with the sponsorship of the individual arrangements and the loan of props from individuals and firms.

There was a special preview party last night (Wednesday) and the festival will be open from today (Thursday) from 9.30am until 4.30pm for four days with the exception of Sunday when it will be open from 11.30am until 4.30pm. Admission is free.