PREPARATIONS for Oxford's 2008 Cowley Road Carnival are under way - and this year people are being asked to help choose a theme for the event.

About 25,000 people descend on the Cowley Road for the now-annual carnival, with a procession, music and a wide range of stalls and activities.

In a bid to get everyone involved, residents are being asked to vote for one of three different themes around which the carnival will be built.

Organiser Ian Nolan said: "We really want to increase the level of public involvement in the carnival because, at the end of the day, it is Oxfordshire's largest community event, so we want to try to get as many people involved as possible.

"One way of doing that is for people to be involved right from the start by helping choose the theme."

The three options are 'Masquerade', 'Dance the World on Cowley Road', or 'Games', and can be voted for on the carnival's website at www.cowleyroadcarnival.org The chosen theme will be announced at a public meeting on Wednesday, February 27, at the Asian Cultural Centre, in Manzil Way, between 6pm and 8pm.

But choosing a theme is not the only way to get involved.

Mr Nolan said this year's event, on Sunday, July 6, promised to be more interactive than ever before.

He said: "Throughout the next few months there will be other things going on.

"Hopefully, people will be able to vote for which bands play on one of the stages.

"We want people to really feel ownership of it. I want it to continue to be a great success so the people that come along have an enjoyable, safe event and enjoy the fantastic music and activities."

The carnival costs in excess of £150,000 to put on, and the first carnival fund-raising event will be held at the Jericho Tavern, in Walton Street, on Saturday, with music from dub reggae star Raggasaurus, rapper Mr Shaodow, and singer songwriter/violinist duo Joe Allen and Angharad Jenkins.

Another fund-raising party will be held at The Cellar, in Frewin Court, on Saturday, March 1.

Work is already starting on creating some of the carnival's set-pieces, with artist Emily Colling working with children from Cheney School to create a giant puppet for the procession.

She said: "We're just beginning to get the designs together, and the kids are getting their ideas about the character.

"We haven't really had something like this before for the Cowley Road Carnival, so it's quite exciting."