IPSWICH is soon to join an illustrious list that includes hit TV shows The Simpsons and Coronation Street, by being turned into a Monopoly board. Plans to produce an Ipswich version of the popular game have been revealed, with Portman Road, the Regent Theatre, Endeavour House, Town Hall, Christchurch Mansion and Foxhall Stadium all touted at potential sites that could be included.

IPSWICH is soon to join an illustrious list that includes hit TV shows The Simpsons and Coronation Street, by being turned into a Monopoly board.

Plans to produce an Ipswich version of the popular game have been revealed, with Portman Road, the Regent Theatre, Endeavour House, Town Hall, Christchurch Mansion and Foxhall Stadium all touted at potential sites that could be included.

If Ipswich were to be used it would join a whole host of other towns and cities that have been selected for special editions including Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

The game is expected to be on the shelves either next year or the year after to coincide with the fate of the town's high flying football team.

Graham Barnes, spokesperson for Winning Moves UK, which produce rare and regional Monopoly editions, said: "It is almost certain we will be doing a Monopoly Ipswich edition to hit shop shelves for Christmas 2006 or Christmas 2007.

"It is unlikely that there will be one this year. The chance of one in 2005 is 0.5 per cent whereas for 2006 or 2007 it is 90pc.

"We have been thinking long and hard about a Monopoly Ipswich game and conducted considerable research.

"Ideally from a purely business opportunist perspective we feel it would be best to do it for this year simply because the football club are riding so high and the way they're playing it's a certainty they will be in the Premiership next season.

"But we did a Monopoly Norwich game a few years ago and would like to wait several years before going back into a particular region."

However he declined to comment on whether any decisions had been made on what locations were to be used.

Mayor of Ipswich Roger Fern, said: "Something like this is a jolly good idea and a couple of years time would coincide with the 400th anniversary of when explorers from the town founded Virginia in the USA.

"We have so many great landmarks in Ipswich it's hard to narrow down to just a few but I would think Portman Road, Christchurch Mansion, Civic Centre, Park Road and Westerfield Road should all get a mention.

"Seeing as we only have two train stations, the two bus stations could also be included. I could do on forever."