People living in the Breckland area are being encouraged to get together in their communities and throw some good old fashioned street parties.Breckland Council wants residents to take part in The Big Lunch, a national initiative from the people behind The Eden Project to encourage people to enjoy each other's company and some home-cooked food.

People living in the Breckland area are being encouraged to get together in their communities and throw some good old fashioned street parties.

Breckland Council wants residents to take part in The Big Lunch, a national initiative from the people behind The Eden Project to encourage people to enjoy each other's company and some home-cooked food.

Mark Stokes, services director for Breckland, said: 'The Big Lunch national programme is on July 19 and we are offering one street the opportunity to win �500 towards a community project if they hold a Big Lunch on this day or another day during July and August 2009.'

To enter the competition people should send in photographs of their Big Lunch with a letter explaining how they worked together organising the event, whether they included locally grown food, live music, street art, games and competitions in the event, and how they would spend the �500 prize in their community.

Entries should be sent to The Sustainable Communities Team, Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE.

For more information on The Big Lunch visit www.thebiglunch.com or contact community development officer Cat Lang on 01362 656870.