GARDENERS are being challenged to colour the town blue and white to mark Ipswich Town's 1978 FA Cup victory.The gauntlet has been laid down to green-fingered residents in the town to get growing for Ipswich in Bloom and make the town a place to be proud of.

GARDENERS are being challenged to colour the town blue and white to mark Ipswich Town's 1978 FA Cup victory.

The gauntlet has been laid down to green-fingered residents in the town to get growing for Ipswich in Bloom and make the town a place to be proud of.

Ipswich Town's 30 years of honour celebrations are fast approaching and the Ipswich in Bloom committee are urging this year's entrants to adopt the theme.

It's all part of the committee's mission to make Ipswich more colourful and see flowers and plants growing in our gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets.

Tony Lawrence, committee member, said: “The committee is looking at how we can get the message across to the residents of Ipswich that we want them to be proud of their town, to make it a better place to live in and to encourage people to visit their town.

“This is a challenge to the residents of Ipswich.”

There are four classes to the competition this year, as well as a special ITFC category for planted containers with a blue and white theme.

Hanging baskets, front and back gardens, shared gardens and planted containers within the Ipswich Borough boundary will be judged from July 1-18 and prizes and certificates will be awarded during September.

Ipswich In Bloom entry forms can be obtained by visiting One Ipswich, Cornhill, Northgate Street Library, Waterfront Community Project, Grimwade Street, or by writing to Ipswich in Bloom, c/o Cllr G Debham, Grafton House, Ipswich, IP1 2DE.

The competition is free and entrants don't have to be expert gardeners.

For more information, visit www.ipswichinbloom.co.uk.

n. Do you think enough people get involved in Ipswich in Bloom? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

PANEL

Thirty years after Ipswich Town won the FA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over Arsenal, the Evening Star, Ipswich Borough Council, BBC Radio Suffolk and Ipswich Town Football Club have teamed up to stage a reunion marking the Blues' wonderful achievement.

On Bank Holiday Monday, May 5, the entire squad - including legendary boss Sir Bobby Robson - will enjoy an open top bus ride through Ipswich before a gala dinner at the Town Hall in honour of their Wembley triumph which is expected to attract thousands of people.

A table at the dinner costs £1,000 + VAT for ten people. Tickets can be bought by calling Austen Dack on 01353 658216 or emailing austen.dack@aol.com. There are also £40 tickets for the event in the Corn Exchange balcony. For more information contact 01473 433133.