WHILE Suffolk shivered on one of the coldest weeks of the year, Jack Frost was hard at work covering the county with a sparkling icy blast and inspiring our readers to capture some stunning images.

Temperatures have plummeted to -6.4C in places this week, also creating misery for drivers attempting to navigate their way along slippery roads.

On Wednesday - the 12/12/2012 - miracle baby Callum Langston turned 12 and celebrated the event with his family.

Seven-year-old Isobelle Creamer’s beaming smile was enough to remind the Super Blues’ players what their annual Christmas visit to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH) means to the youngsters. Shrieking with laughter, she planted a big blob of blue paint on the nose of Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy when members of the first team squad visited the Treehouse Hospice in St Augustine’s Gardens on Monday,

Men and women who fly and maintain Apache helicopters were recognised this week for their efforts at a parade at Wattisham Airfield. Colonel Andrew Jackson, deputy commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, who presented 66 soldiers with medals said: “It’s an absolute privilege to represent the regiment on a very special day.”

Hundreds of festive fundraisers donned Santa Claus costumes and jogged through the streets of Ipswich at the weekend – raising thousands of pounds for charity in the process. More than 250 people took part in the 3km Ipswich Santa Run for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

The Christmas market in Fore Street provided a welcome boost for businesses in the area, which saw a major decline in footfall during recent roadworks by National Grid. It was very busy and hailed a great success by organisers and stallholders alike.

The long-awaited Beccles loop finally opened this week, allowing an hourly service to run between the county’s two largest towns.

However, on the day the new service was opened with VIPs on the first new train from Lowestoft, two level crossings broke down.

This meant the train had to stop before passing them at walking pace – which ultimately made the train ten minutes late into Ipswich.