GOLDEN Jubilee celebrations in Needham Market will light up the town with an action packed programme of events.The town was one of ten lucky winners to receive a share of the £5,000 prize money to uplift celebrations in a competition organised by The Evening Star in conjunction with British Gas.

GOLDEN Jubilee celebrations in Needham Market will light up the town with an action packed programme of events.

The town was one of ten lucky winners to receive a share of the £5,000 prize money to uplift celebrations in a competition organised by The Evening Star in conjunction with British Gas.

Delighted with the £500 prize money Jenny Straughier, chairwoman of the Needham Market Golden Jubilee committee, said: "The money will help us tremendously as we have a lot of things going on. We never thought we would get it to be honest.

"But we put in for it and lo and behold we won it. Everyone is ecstatic. It will mean we will be able to get hats and flags to give to the children and red, white and blue balloons for the opening ceremony.

"The children will congregate in the main arena and release the balloons into the air after the mayor's opening ceremony."

Up to 3,000 people are expected to attend the bank holiday celebrations.

The weekend's events kick off with an auction of promises, three course meal and disco at The Limes Hotel on Friday May 31 starting 7.30 pm in aid of The East Anglian Air Ambulance.

On Saturday at 3 pm will be an open-air service at Needham Lake with Battisford Brass Band.

A Golden Memories Jubilee Cabaret will take place in The Community Centre on Saturday starting 7.30 pm.

On Sunday people will gather at Needham Lake for a raft race at 2 pm (which was changed from 11 am because of the football).

Sunday's evening events will include an Olde Time Music sing along at the Limes Hotel from 5 – 7 pm followed by a Karaoke and Disco at the same venue starting 7.30 pm.

Monday's events kick off with a stretcher race at Crowley Park at 12.45 pm and a procession through the town ending at Needham Market Middle School ready for the 2 pm opening ceremony and dedication by Mayor Ian Mason and the ministers from the town.

Among the string of activities during the afternoon include a picnic, stalls, games, music, gun run by the 7th Air Assault Battalion from Wattisham and party at the school until 6 pm.

A children's disco in the community centre will take place at 7.30 pm and at the same time there will be a Royal Quiz at the Limes Hotel.

The weekend's events end at 10.15 pm with the lighting of the beacon at The Middle School field.

The activities took months of planning and came about after members of the Neighbourhood Watch Children's Club asked what was happening for the jubilee celebrations.

At the same time a meeting was held at The Community Centre, which Mrs Straughier attended and it snowballed from there.

"It has gone from a picnic in Needham Market Middle School field from a full blown street party," said Mrs Straughier, who runs the Neighbourhood Watch Children's Club.

"Everyone is looking forward to it. People have all got behind us and the headteacher, Sue Hull, has backed us 110 percent. It is all thanks to the other ten members of the committee who without them this would not be happening."

All money raised will be helping towards local charities and organisations within Needham Market.