A bout of ‘Ed Sheeran mania’ has taken over New Zealand as the star prepares to play three stadium concerts over Easter weekend.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ed snapped a selfie with his mural in central Dunedin. Picture: INSTAGRAM/TEDDYSPHOTOSEd snapped a selfie with his mural in central Dunedin. Picture: INSTAGRAM/TEDDYSPHOTOS (Image: Archant)

The people of Dunedin, the second-largest city in the South Island of the country, are planning some uncoventional celebrations in honour of the Suffolk-based superstar.

In preparation for a weekend-long Ed-themed festival, during which they plan to “paint the town Ed”, a NZ$8,000 (£4,100) mural of the singer’s face has been painted pride of place in the city centre.

The council also plans to grant special licenses to bars and restaurants to serve alcohol to 10,000 excited fans expected to line the streets – despite sales normally being restricted on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Not only this, but the city has resurrected a defunct passenger train – renamed the Easter Ed Express, a local baker has crafted Sheeran-shaped gingerbread men, and a major supermarket has created an “aisle of Ed” featuring a range of orange products, inspired by the star’s famous ginger hair.

Ed is a huge fan of New Zealand, and this tour will be his sixth trip to the country.

He told Radio New Zealand: “I really like going to places that people don’t usually tour, because I know when I was a kid going to gigs how exciting it was that Elton was coming to town or something.”

He also told the Otago Daily Times, which covers the Dunedin area, that he “can’t wait” to visit the city, and is especially excited to sample the food.

Ed added: “That’s all I want to do, obviously I’ve got the gigs there and I’ve seen Auckland before, I’ve seen Wellington before, I’ve seen Christchurch but I’ve never been to Dunedin. So I want to see all there is to see and I want to eat all there is to eat.”