A town’s park will be awash with colour on Monday evening as part of the celebrations surrounding the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay.

The baton finishes its journey through Suffolk in Christchurch Park, Ipswich and a huge free event is being held to welcome it.

At the end of the 120-mile relay will be a Commonwealth fun run, a colour run, an interactive sports village and music from local bands hosted by BBC Radio Suffolk.

The baton will be brought into the park by 80-year-old fitness enthusiast Ken Webb, one of six runners in the Suffolk leg of the relay.

He will be flanked by local children and will run through an avenue of flagpoles and pyrotechnics to the main stage.

Here he will be welcomed by Mayor of Ipswich Bill Quinton and Suffolk County Council chairman Christopher Hudson.

Also on stage will be Paralympic bronze medal-winning powerlifter Zoe Newson, from East Berholt, the final baton carrier of the day, who will officially start the fun run.

Alan Murray, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member responsible for health, said: “We’re now just a matter of days away from welcoming the Queen’s Baton to Suffolk – but it’s not too late to plan how you’ll see it.

“The event in Christchurch Park is free, exciting and fun for all the family – so I would most definitely urge people to come down and take part. You never know – you may just find an activity that ignites, or reignites, a passion for sport.”

David Ellesmere, Ipswich Borough Council’s leader, said: “It is a great honour for Ipswich people to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to the town.

“We were proud to host the Olympic Torch Relay here just two years ago and now we will be able to give a warm welcome to the baton runners.

“This is the first of many big occasions for Christchurch Park as we approach the Ipswich Arts Festival and its many free events.”

The fun run is open to all, while people wanting to take part in the colour run are advised to wear old, light clothing.

Participants who choose to run through the three colour zones will be splashed with non-toxic coloured powder which washes out of clothes.