IPSWICH Community Playbus is celebrating its first anniversary of being back on the road.Playbus committee chairman Liz Harsant said: "We offer a variety of stimulating play opportunities for young children to experience.

IPSWICH Community Playbus is celebrating its first anniversary of being back on the road.

Despite the success of The Evening Star's 1998 campaign to Save Our Playbus, it was off the road for two-and-a-half years before being brought back last year.

Playbus committee chairman Liz Harsant said: "We offer a variety of stimulating play opportunities for young children to experience.

"But this is also a chance for mums, dads,grandparents, aunties and uncles or

other carers to get together and have some fun, too. It is important to provide a facility like this in the communities themselves.

"We have had some generous donations from Woolworths, Waterstones, BTExact Technologies and the Lions Club and we are grateful for their support.

"Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council and local network funding also support us. Now we are looking for extra cash to enable us to go into another neighbourhood."

The Ipswich Community Playbus also runs special trips - earlier this year staff and families went along for a special day at Portman Road - and can be booked for events and parties.

Thanks to the hard work of the management committee and co-ordinators Jo Studd and Mandy Potter, the Playbus, which is a registered charity, is

able to offer play time fun in the following communities:

Mondays - Hawke Road (Play Area) 9.30am to noon;

Tuesdays - Bramford Road (Rosary Conservative Club car park) 9.30am to noon.

Wednesdays - Shenstone Drive 9.30am to noon.

Thursdays - Downside Close (far car park) 9.30am to noon.

Playbus sessions for little ones up to five and a parent or carer are free and there is no need to book.

If you want more information or would like to sponsor the Playbus telephone 01473 221521.