Crowds are expected to flock to Thame for the town's Millennium celebrations.

Thousands of tickets for the nine days of special events for Thame in 2000 have been distributed.

Organiser Nick Stock said: "We have aimed to make this the biggest series of important events the town has ever seen and we have invited people countywide to come and share it with us."

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire branches of the Royal British Legion will stage a joint tattoo on June 17 to start off events in aid of the Poppy Appeal. The display includes seven military bands, a parade of standards, the Hawks parachute team, a parade of Second World War vehicles, vintage and veteran cars.

Other major events include five launches of up to 50 hot air balloons, music ranging through pop to gospel and classical, sports, fashion shows, dancing, living history exhibitions and English Civil War skirmishes. Thame Players are also presenting their musical The New Light.

Local MP Michael Heseltine will join Estelle Morris MP, Lord Norman Forsythe and Richard Harris in an Any Questions? broadcast from Lord Williams's School next Friday, June 23.

There will be a music and fireworks display on Saturday, June 24, and the annual festival of sport at the sports and arts centre on June 25.