LAST minute preparations are today taking place along Felixstowe's seafront as amusement operators prepare to kick start their spring and summer season.

By Georgina James

LAST minute preparations are today taking place along Felixstowe's seafront as amusement operators prepare to kick start their spring and summer season.

All leisure attractions along the seafront are being spruced up with a fresh lick of paint and general repair and maintenance work is taking place ready for the tourist season.

Ocean Amusements director, Stan Harris, has for the last month, been getting his parade of rides and amusements by the pier ready and is hoping for a good trade over the coming months.

"We have been working really hard to try and get as many things open as possible. We have brightened the place up and put new engines in our bumper boats.

"In this business we rely on good weather and fingers crossed we are hoping for a hot summer."

The seafront attractions includes children's rides, a play park, bumper boats, a miniature railway, mini water dodgems, safari crazy golf, go-karts and much more.

This weekend the annual Easter Bank Holiday fun fair kick-starts the tourist season.

The four-day event features a variety of traditional and modern rides, stalls and games, as well as entertainment such as jugglers and fire- eaters. It will be held on Pier Bight in front of the leisure centre. Mr Harris, also the event organiser, said: "With a little luck, we shall have some really nice weather and it will bring the crowds down to the seaside.

"Easter is traditionally the start of our season and it would be lovely to get off to a really good start."

The fair will open on Good Friday and Easter Saturday from 11am-10pm and Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 11am-9pm, with times subject to weather conditions.