Organisers of a successful summer celebration in east Suffolk have expanded their ranks to make this year’s event even bigger and better than the last.

Wickham Market Primary School’s first Summer Extravaganza saw crowds of 1,500 flock to the village last June to enjoy a day of entertainment and activities.

Spurred on by the event’s “huge success”, the school association has teamed up with Wickham Market Youth Football Club and the Town Team – a group focused on revitalising the village – to open this year’s celebration up to the wider community.

Ruth Leigh, Wickham Market School Association chairman, said she was hoping for between 2,000 and 3,000 people to attend the Extravaganza, which would be “even more action packed” than the last.

“We originally said let’s just do a school fete but it soon became apparent that what was needed was a more large scale event so that we could reach out to the whole village, bring people together and revive some of the community spirit,” she said.

“We feel encouraged by what’s been happening in Wickham recently and hope we can continue moving in that direction.”

As part of the expansion plans, this year’s Extravaganza, on Saturday, June 14, will take place over two venues – the school field, and The Hill in the village centre – with a treasure hunt linking between the two.

Town Team chairman Colin Owens said the idea was to widen the appeal beyond that of a purely school-focused event and to encourage visitors to move around the rest of the village.

Entertainment plans are in their infancy, however many of the local sports, dance and music groups will be involved as well as professional organisations from further afield.

Last year’s popular vintage car display is expected to return and it is also hoped that the RAF will complete a flypast over the village, as part of its routine for the Queen’s birthday, as they did in 2013.

Martial arts displays, dance groups, and musical performers are also being booked and many of the primary school pupils will be taking part in various shows throughout the day.