New guide for popular fort

VISITORS to one of Felixstowe's most important attractions have a new guide willing to go with them every step of their tour.

For the charitable trust which runs Landguard Fort has invested £20,000 in new digital hand-held talking guides to help people get more enjoyment out of the ancient monument.

The state-of-the-art audio guides feature a complete professional commentary on the fort – the last place England was invaded by a foreign force – and all people have to do is push the numbered buttons at each point on their tour.

The machines, a little larger than a mobile phone, have been supplied by Flexliegh and a professional scriptwriter and cast of actors was used to record the commentary.

Fort manager David Tolliday said the hand-held tour lasted about 90 minutes and there had been many favourable comments from visitors.

"They are very similar to those now used in many of the country's top historical attractions, such as castles and other monuments," he said.

"It is a major investment for the Landguard Fort Trust and a big step forward in helping people to really get to grips with what there is to see and explore here and the special history of the fort."

He said the hand-held guides were particularly for use when the fort is open during the week and on Saturdays, while on Sundays volunteers with expert knowledge still give guided tours of the monument.

The decision to open every day this summer has provided the fort with an enormous boost and there has been an exceptional number of visitors. It has also staged several military reconstruction events.

It will be open every day from 10am to 6pm until the end of September, then from October until Sunday November 2 from 10am until 5pm.

Admission is adults £2.50, concessions £2 and children £1. Children under five and wheelchair users are free.