THOUSANDS of people are expected to gather at the Cornhill to watch the switch on of Ipswich's Christmas lights on Sunday.

THOUSANDS of people are expected to gather in the Cornhill to watch Ipswich's Christmas lights get switched on tomorrow.

The Evening Star-sponsored Christmas tree went up this week and the switch-on marks the start of our Christmas appeal, in aid of the Somebody's Daughter campaign.

Many shops will be open all day tomorrow as the lights are being flicked on at 5pm.

Late night shopping begins on Thursday and will continue every Thursday until Christmas. Most shops will stay open until 9pm.

Paul Clement, executive director of Ipswich Central, said he was looking forward to the switch-on.

He said: “We are taking the Ipswich Christmas campaign to a new level this year as part of the Business Improvement District's commitment to a better town centre.

“There are many exciting surprises planned for tomorrow's switch-on.

“We have had up to 4,000 people in the Cornhill in previous years so our advice is to get into town early.”

The Evening Star has chosen Somebody's Daughter for its Christmas appeal and will be collecting donations tomorrow.

Park and Ride buses in the town will be free all day.

Sue Gipps, from the Star's promotions department, said: “We are really pleased to provide the sponsorship and give the people of Ipswich a tree.

“I am sure it will be as popular as last year.”

The Ipswich Central switch-on has been organised with Suffolk County Council, suffolkonboard.com, SGRfm and Ipswich Borough Council.

Somebody's Daughter was launched last year after the red light killings in December last year.

Its aim is to establish a safe house and rehabilitation centre in the town for young people who have developed drug habits and who want to find a way out.

It will establish an education programme that warns young people about the dangers of experimenting with drugs if sufficient funds are attracted.

N Is your Christmas tree unusual? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk