GALLERY & VIDEO A hovercraft, live music and a bouncy castle were among the attractions at this year's Lark in the Park.

A HOVERCRAFT, live music and a bouncy castle were among the attractions at this year's Lark in the Park.

Scores of people from around the area travelled to Gippeswyk Park, off Ancaster Road, in Ipswich yesterday for the Chantry Residents Association's seventh annual fun day.

Fortunately the weather held up as there were plenty of activities to suit all the family, including past favourites such as the Essex Hov Pods, the Silver Spinners majorettes and the Mirgissa Egyptian Dancers.

Other attractions at the event, which lasted from 11am to 4pm, were a five-a-side football match, a sumo-wrestling ring, face painting, a bouncy castle and a car boot sale.

The Torwood Wheelers, Daniel Hammond the magician and Stagecoach productions were some of the new attractions booked this year.

Youth theatre group Oskar Foxtrot Productions performed a few numbers and the area's police safer neighbourhood team was also on hand to talk to residents and give people a go at sounding their sirens.

Refreshments, which were served all day by local resident caterers, included burgers, a mixture of Caribbean food and ice creams.

Year ten pupils from Chantry High School helped set up the event.

Sam Granger, a mother who bought her child along for the day, said: “It has been really good. We came a couple of years ago and decided to come again.

“The only thing I would say is that there needs to be more flyers about it. I live just off Wherstead Road and didn't get a flyer about it. Unless you hear it from someone who lives in the area, you wouldn't know about it.”

Proceeds raised from the event will be put back into the community through the running of the community shop, other community events or organised coach trips.

For more information contact the CRA shop on 01473-683680 or visit the website at freewebs.com/larkinthepark

Did you enjoy the Lark in the Park? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk