IT was a grey day at Felixstowe today – even though the sun was shining!For the resort was welcoming a grey invasion as nearly 1,000 pensioners flocked to the town in a cavalcade of coaches to give the tourist trade a welcome end-of-season boost.

IT was a grey day at Felixstowe today – even though the sun was shining!

For the resort was welcoming a grey invasion as nearly 1,000 pensioners flocked to the town in a cavalcade of coaches to give the tourist trade a welcome end-of-season boost.

The senior citizens were on a special day trip, organised by the mayor of Cambridge David White, to enjoy the seaside, shop and see a show at the Spa Pavilion.

Fresh air, fish and chips and a few old memories were the ingredients for many of the group, who were greeted on their arrival by Felixstowe mayor Doreen Savage.

Around 20 coaches brought the pensioners to town, the third year running the trip has been staged.

It was boost for traders already looking back on a bumper holiday season.

Tropical temperatures saw thousands head for the seaside to cool down and Felixstowe has had one of it's busiest ever summers.

Charles Manning, owner of Manning's Amusement Park in Sea Road, said: "We've had a good summer and the weather has been very kind to us. We are probably slightly up on the takings from last year. It's very encouraging."

Restaurants and takeaways also did a roaring trade. Philip Lou, manager of the Undercliff Fish and Chip Restaurant in Undercliff Road West, said: "Business has definitely been above average. There have been a lot more people coming into the town from outside and lots of coaches so, from a business point of view, it has been great."

Many hotels, bed and breakfasts and holiday parks have been fully booked all the way through the school holidays.

Liz Smith, of the Peewit caravan park, in Walton Avenue said: "We've certainly had a bumper summer. The touring caravan pitch has been busier than it has been for years. We've had a particularly large number of tents – the hot weather has suddenly made everyone decide camping is a good idea!"

Mrs Savage said: "From all the feedback I've had everybody is quite jubilant at the wonderful summer that we had.

"The weather has brought hundreds of extra people into the town and proved that Felixstowe is still very much a popular holiday resort.

"It makes me very cross when people say it's dying on its feet, you only have to look at the numbers of people flocking here during the summer to realise that's not the case."

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