SUMMER seemed far away at Felixstowe today as rain and wind battered the town - but its floral displays were showing plenty of seasonal colour.Dignitaries gathered on the seafront for the launch of the Felixstowe in Flower scheme, the lynchpin of the resort's status as The Garden Resort of East Anglia.

SUMMER seemed far away at Felixstowe today as rain and wind battered the town - but its floral displays were showing plenty of seasonal colour.

Dignitaries gathered on the seafront for the launch of the Felixstowe in Flower scheme, the lynchpin of the resort's status as The Garden Resort of East Anglia.

They posed for photos in front of the eye-catching three-D floral display outside the leisure centre - this year a crab on a seashore of flowers and washed up barrels - before a celebration champagne breakfast at the Town Hall.

Mayor Joan Sennington said: “The town looks wonderful again this year and everyone has worked so hard - I am sure the visitors and residents will really enjoy the displays.”

The scheme, which has been running 22 years, provides a floral trail through the seaside town with 120 sponsored hanging baskets, plus tubs and troughs, making the resort really colourful.

As part of this, the town council - which runs the scheme - holds a series of competitions for schools, allotment holders, businesses and private gardeners to encourage them to help make the town look great.

The Port of Felixstowe is the new main sponsor for this year, contributing £1,300 to offset the cost of Felixstowe in Flower 2007 to the delight of community leaders.

On Monday July 16 judges from Anglia in Bloom will visit to tour the town to see the civic displays, and also the work of householders, businesses and schoolchildren.

In the autumn there will be a prize-giving ceremony at Brackenbury Sports Centre for those who took part in the competitions.

What do you think of Felixstowe's floral displays? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk