FESTIVE spirit continues to spread at Ipswich Hospital today after a dazzling Christmas tree was put up.The hospital's grounds are now adorned by a lit 20-foot fir tree near the main entrance.

FESTIVE spirit continues to spread at Ipswich Hospital today after a dazzling Christmas tree was put up.

The hospital's grounds are now adorned by a lit 20-foot fir tree near the main entrance.

The tree, officially unveiled by staff on Wednesday, was bought as part of a sparkling Christmas partnership between the Evening Star, Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich Asda, and the Lions clubs of Ipswich, Woodbridge and Felixstowe.

Hospital spokesman Jan Rowsell said: “It's great to have a lovely Christmas tree again this year as the one we had last year proved to be really popular with patients, relatives and staff.

“Every day we have around 8,000 people on site so it will be seen and appreciated by many.

“Thank you very much Evening Star for your kindness and for bringing sparkle to this Christmas at the hospital.”

Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover said: “It is a beautiful tree and one we hope will brighten up the Christmases of many patients, staff, visitors and passers by at the hospital.

“No Christmas is complete without a tree, and the hospital deserves a bit of sparkle at this time of year.

“Thanks must go to our kind community partners who have donated the money.”

The decision was made to spread Christmas cheer as the hospital has been hit by a year of cutbacks and a difficult battle with superbugs.

The Christmas magic began last week when Asda decorated the accident and emergency department.

The old decorations in the department were lost or stolen after last Christmas and staff thought they were in for a gloomy Christmas this year.

However Asda stepped in with lights, tinsel, trees and baubles.

It is the last year the A&E team will have in their current department before moving to the £26million Garrett Anderson Centre in January.

It will take the decorations with it for next year.

Meanwhile the Lions Club kindly donated £300 of toys to the children's day surgery unit at the new centre.

The current Foxhall Day Surgery Unit at the hospital does not have a separate area for children but at the new Raedwald Centre there will be a paediatric ward area, play area, operating theatre and recovery area.

The Lions Club donated cash for toys for children of all ages, including musical instruments, puzzles, books and soft toys.

Do you have a special Christmas story at Ipswich Hospital? We want to cover all the stories of good cheer at the hospital this year so let us know what is going on. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk