MASQUERADE is set to be the theme of this year's Cowley Road Carnival, in Oxford.

For the first time, the theme of the carnival - the biggest public event in Oxfordshire's calendar - was chosen by public vote.

The winning idea was announced at a public meeting at the Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way.

Carnival development worker Bethan Emmett called on each of the 25,000 people who are expected to come to the carnival, on Sunday, July 6, to get into the spirit of the event.

She said: "I would personally love it every single person who came to carnival this year wore a mask and came in fancy dress.

"We will be incorporating it into the procession as a major theme and work has already begun in some of the schools around the area."

The carnival's steering group is working with 16 schools across the city and is trying to get pupils outside Oxford involved too.

Su Frizzell, who has been involved in the carnival since it was relaunched in 2001, is helping to create masquerade costumes with children at Donnington Doorstep Family Centre and Larkrise Primary School.

She said: "My own personal focus is working predominantly with recycled and reclaimed material, such as using CDs as giant sequins. Masquerade is a wonderful theme."

Last year, 650 people were involved in staging the carnival.

East Oxford-based DJ and promoter Aiden Larkin said he hoped to run his Skylarkin' Soundsystem stage from outside the Brickworks bar, on Cowley Road.

He said: "I'm up for doing it again. It's always been a bit of a challenge to see who I can get involved for nothing.

"I think we are going to have to go big on the masks."

Residents at the meeting were excited about the prospect.

Emma Gough, a project worker for Oxford Night Shelter, said she wanted to get homeless people involved and suggested the shelter's art group could make masks. She said: "I think the more music, colour, and decoration in the street, the better."