The biggest summer party of the Marlow calendar will be open to more people than ever before after fresh changes to allow greater access to the action.

The enclosure at the Marlow Town Regatta and Festival will this year accommodate up to 5000 people - up from 4500 last year.

And unlike before, everyone at Saturday’s festivities has access the whole of the riverside towpath to witness the races after changes to the exclusive riverside Jim Campbell Enclosure.

A plethora of new events surrounds the traditional weekend on June 13 and 14, with the town-wide Love Marlow arts festival in the lead up and an open air opera screening in Higginson Park on Sunday night.

And with the announcement of the passing of a 200-strong flotilla led by the Queen’s barge Gloriana on Saturday, June 13, organisers say revellers are in for a special year at next month’s annual celebration.

Regatta committee vice-president Lance Slater said: "This shows the tremendous continued and growing support from the town and people of Marlow and everything is continuing to grow around it.

"All the picnic sites are sold out and went quicker than ever before. It just shows the enjoyment the people of Marlow get from this summer party.

"I think the Gloriana will be a tremendous occasion, helping it to be the biggest and best event in Marlow each year. If only we could get that to happen every year."

This year marks the 15th instalment of the town’s big summer party after it was relaunched since the original Regatta moved to Dorney Lake.

The two-day event sees the traditional garden party and rowing on the Saturday, followed by the colourful dragon boat racing and canoe competitions on Sunday alongside a range of live performances and entertainment.

To coincide with Sunday’s climax, comical opera ‘Vert-Vert’ will be shown on a giant outdoor screen in the park.

The free event has been funded by Wycombe District Council and Shanly Group, and is produced by world-renowned, Bucks-based Garsington Opera.

Last year, restrictions on the Thames side towpath meant that much of the stretch was off-limits to those without a picnic pitch in the Jim Campbell Enclosure.

And while a grandstand will still be placed on the site, this year organisers have decided to open the river stretch up to allow all revellers to access the whole river.

Partygoers will also be able to book a table in the enclosure for a ‘Henley-style’ waitress service meal and drinks service accompanied by a live orchestra in a new venture for this year.

Picnic pitches are now sold out. For general entry badge sales, visit www.marlowtownregatta.org/badges-and-tickets.php