Since losing its popular airshow and carnival three years ago, it is a town that has lacked a major community event to celebrate its civic pride.

But this year the huge void left by the loss of the massive public displays will finally be filled as Lowestoft Vision, Lowestoft Rising and the Lions and Rotary clubs come together to organise the first ever Lowestoft Summer Festival.

The event between July 16 and 19 will include a range of activities to attract visitors and raise money for charity, with the first two days set aside for school sports activity.

The star attraction will be Channel Four's 'street velodrome', which will be set up in the town centre for people to race their friends and compete against some top riders.

And in a bold move, organisers have decided to hold the event at the same time as the much-loved Latitude music festival - but are confident they can attract people to Lowestoft instead, despite the potential competition.

Lowestoft Vision Business Improvement District (BID) manager Darren Newman said: 'Over the years we've sadly lost the carnival and the airshow.

'However between us we felt that, if we pooled our resources, we could put on an event which would plug that gap.'

Read the full story in today's Lowestoft Journal.