FELIXSTOWE: A drive to entice shoppers back to Felixstowe has given the town a much-needed boost, organisers said today.

More than 30 traders got together for Revisit Felixstowe Day in a bid to overcome the problems they say have been caused by work on a pedestrian area.

Many retailers in Hamilton Road feel people have shunned the seaside town after almost a year of disruption while the new �2.8million shared-space shopping centre was built.

However, on Saturday there was a much more positive atmosphere as a raft of events and entertainments were available for shoppers to enjoy.

As well as 35 retailers, other community organisations such as police, firefighters and sea cadets all came along to show their support. Carol Jones, who runs Glyph gift shop in Hamilton Road, was delighted with how the initiative went.

She said: “We had sales, free giveaways, and chocolate tasting. It was a bit like the Generation Game. Everyone was promoting what they do and showing people that Felixstowe is a nice community. We hope people had a lovely day and will come back.

“To us traders, this event is very important. We have really been hit by the road change and the economy as it is.

“I am hoping we can try to do this again in the summer and the autumn. Last year, from February onwards, Felixstowe’s high street was a mess with roadworks.

“What has happened in the upheaval is people have started shopping elsewhere. There has also been so much bad publicity about the road with people saying it’s too far to walk from the car park, so we are trying to get shoppers back to Felixstowe.”

Police said earlier this month that the shared space scheme was working well – and has removed many traffic dangers from the shopping area.

n What do you think could be done to help Felixstowe thrive? E-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.