DRAGON'S Den star Duncan Bannatyne will swap his spreadsheets for a bucket and spade on Sunday as he bids to boost the fortunes of a Suffolk coastal town.

Richard Cornwell

DRAGON'S Den star Duncan Bannatyne will swap his spreadsheets for a bucket and spade on Sunday as he bids to boost the fortunes of a Suffolk coastal town.

The successful millionaire business entrepreneur will be at Felixstowe for further filming for a new programme in which he tries to change its fading fortunes as a seaside resort.

During the day there will be loads of fun for children with circus skills workshops, balloon modelling, stilt walkers, face painting and a storyteller on the seafront.

The activities will take place during the afternoon at Charles Manning's amusement park, the Forum, run by David Manning, and at Stan Harris's children's amusements, all in Sea Road.

Then at 4pm Mr Bannatyne will pose for photographers on the beach off Sea Road, opposite the boating lake, with two former Miss East Anglia winners.

“The rebrand of Felixstowe has been a very exciting challenge for me,” said Mr Bannatyne.

“I'm all for holidays at home but Britain's seaside resorts have taken a bit of a hit over the last few decades.

“I hope the work we've completed here helps to put Felixstowe back on the tourist map as a prime seaside holiday location for Brits.”

Programme makers TwoFour Broadcast are putting together the event as part of their work in the town on The Great British Holiday Show, which aims to help seaside towns with their regeneration.

The team is making six hour-long shows for Virgin 1 in different coastal towns, and chose Felixstowe because in recent years it has suffered a downturn in visitors while other nearby places have seen an increase.

The show is due to be screened at the beginning of 2010.