RESIDENTS across Oxfordshire are looking forward to tucking in at Big Lunch street parties across the county.

Each summer thousands of picnic goers pull up a seat to lunch alongside their neighbours as part of the countrywide initiative and this year many are taking on a royal theme to honour of The Queen's 90th birthday.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to Sheep Street in Bicester for a royal lunch that won't quite match the one The Mall.

The annual Bicester Big Lunch is one of the biggest in the UK and promises to be bigger than previous years which has attracted around 5,000 people to the town centre.

Balloons, bunting and benches will line the streets on Sunday, June 12.

There will be a 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 - not forgetting the home-made crown parade.

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.

Elsewhere in North Oxfordshire the Banbury Youth Homelessness Project is hosting a big lunch on July 2, at 2 Chandos Close.

The group hope to create "human warming" around a feast of dishes bought from around the world by all visitors.

There is also a Big Lunch being held in royal fashion for The Queen's 90th birthday in Witney.

At Freeland Village Hall the parish council is hosting a community picnic from 11.30am until 2pm.

Visitors are asked to bring along food to share to enjoy a picnic lunch with friends and neighbours following the recent unveiling of the new play area in the neighbouring playing fields.