MORE than 2,000 people turned up to make Guy Fawkes go with a bang at Felixstowe - and enjoy a stunning firework display.

MORE than 2,000 people turned up to make Guy Fawkes go with a bang at Felixstowe - and enjoy a stunning firework display.

Organisers are thrilled with the success of the event, the resort's first major town-wide public display for two decades, and say it will definitely happen again next year.

The Firework Spectacular, sponsored by the Evening Star and other businesses from the area, was put on by Felixstowe and Walton United Football Club at their Dellwood Avenue ground and raised more than £500 for Cancer Research UK.

“It was fantastic and went really well,” said football club commercial officer Chris Daynes.

“We are really pleased and to have 2,000 people from the town come to see the display was just brilliant and so heartening - we had been hoping the community would support it and they did.

“Their reaction was great and we have had some lovely comments.

“It has made us even more determined to do it again next year and to make it even bigger and better.

“We will have more attractions and we can easily get another couple of thousand people in the ground.”

Mr Daynes said this year had been a learning curve and the club was now better prepared for 2009.

It had been planned to have live music from the Abbababes and a bar, but have had to be cancelled because the licence for the ground said live music and alcohol could only be provided for club members and not the general public.

“If we had known earlier what we know now, we would have dealt with the licence issue much better - next year we will do it in plenty of time so the consultation can take place,” he said.

“That way, licence permitting, we will have a bar and music and much more.

“This was our first year and we are learning all the time.”

As well as the 20-minute, £3,000 display, the event featured a fairground, Guy competition, sideshows, and hot food.

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