THERE are plenty of special collection boxes around town where you can post local Christmas cards to raise money for the Scouts.

THERE are plenty of special collection boxes around town where you can post local Christmas cards to raise money for the Scouts.

Now in its 22nd year, the Ipswich Scouts' festive service is preparing to deliver around 90,000 pieces of mail across the town after its official launch by mayor David Hale at the weekend.

He was joined by trainee guide dog Star for the launch as the first cards of the season were posted.

Boxes have been placed at various locations, from where mail will be collected before being sorted and distributed in time for Christmas. Cards cost 15 pence and money can be left at each box. Cash raised will go towards the running the eight scout groups taking part.

Cards will be delivered anywhere in the IP1 to IP5 areas, plus Pinewood, Kesgrave, Martlesham and Claydon. The deadline for posting is December 9. The scouts will deliver cards before Christmas.

For more information, visit www.iscp.escouts.net.

The full list of collection boxes is:

114 Felixstowe Road

115 Ashcroft Road

13 Camden Road

18 Fairfield Road

182 Britannia Road

19 Arundel Way

1st Martlesham Scout Hut - The Drift, Valiant Road

269 Cavendish Street

2nd Stop Charity Shop near Tesco

39 Humber Doucy Lane

43 Roundwood Road

4th Ipswich Scout HQ, Hogarth Road,

6 Woodrush Road

75 Dumbarton Road

Adams Wilkinson & Co. 151 Felixstowe Road.

Age Concern, Lower Brook Street

Amenibble, 19 Wherstead Road.

Asda, Goddard Rd

Balfour News, Dales Road

Barham Church

Belvedere Florist, 291 Woodbridge Road

Black Tiles post office, Martlesham.

British Heart Foundation, Carr Street

Broke Hall News

Claydon Scout & Guide HQ, Kirby Rise, Barham

Cockram's Newsagents - Felixstowe Road

Co-op Rosehill Centre - Felixstowe Road

Co-op, Surbiton Road

Co-op, Ulster Ave.

Craft Ability, St Lawrence St (formally BCM)

Crafty Coffee Shop, Tomline Rd

Day Lewis Pharmacy, Ravenswood

Dominos Pizza, Dobbs Lane

Duncan's Butchers, Martlesham.

East Anglian Air Ambulance, Orwell Place

Felixstowe Rd Launderette

Firepower Shop, Foxhall Road

Foxhall News - Wellesley Road

Foxhall Stores

Fresh Fills Bakery, Claydon

Gainsborough Sports Centre.

George Debman Butchers - Cliff Lane

Gt Blakenham Church

Halifax Building Society, Buttermarket

House Of Hair, Edmonton Road

Humberstones Newsagent, Cauldwell/Spring Road

Janine's Hair Fashions, 12 Selkirk Rd

Julie Dawn, Nacton Road

Jonathan Waters Estate Agents, Foxhall Road

Kay's fruit and veg shop, 368 Nacton Road.

Kay's fruit and veg shop, Meredith Road

Kesgrave Butchers, Penzance Road

Kesgrave Library

Krop & Co, Beech Road, Rushmere

Martins Bakery, Woodbridge Road East

Melmerby House, Great Blakenham

Morrisons, Sproughton Road

Nacton Road Fish Shop

Northgate Sports Centre

Oncology department at Ipswich Hospital

One Stop, Bixley Farm

Orwell Vets, Hartree Way

Oxfam Charity Shop 53 Buttermarket.

Pathology department at Ipswich Hospital

Penalty Two, Chantry Estate

Richardsons Hardware, Garrick Way

Scotts Hardware, Chantry estate

Scout HQ - Newton Road - Monday Nights only

Sophisticuts Hair Salon, 321 Woodbridge Rd.

Spar Shop, Freehold Road

St Helen's News - St Helen's Street

Suffolk College Students Union

Tesco Express, Duke Street

The Beacon, Beaconsfield Road

United News, South Wards

WH Smiths at Ipswich station.

Whitton Sports Centre