RESIDENTS of South East Ipswich have shown that they really are a bunch of bright sparks when they lit up Ipswich with their Christmas lights.The group from all over the South East were awarded for their efforts with a prize-giving at the Gainsborough Sports Centre.

By Victoria Knowles

RESIDENTS of South East Ipswich have shown that they really are a bunch of bright sparks when they lit up Ipswich with their Christmas lights.

The group from all over the South East were awarded for their efforts with a prize-giving at the Gainsborough Sports Centre.

The competition to find the best lights was the idea of the South East Ipswich Partnership and funding was given by the Ravenswood Community Fund and Bellway Homes.

Sainsbury's at Warren Heath was also involved and gave twenty per cent discount on the cost of the prizes which included vouchers and groceries.

Mr Partridge and his partner Teresa Chetty came first in the competition for the lights at their Hossack Road home. They said it is something they do every year and it just keeps getting bigger.

"We do this every year and it just keeps expanding. We have been doing it for about ten years and it has become a real tradition. My son Adrian did a lot of it this year. One year we did not put the lights up and we had people knocking on the door asking where they were," said Mr Partridge.

Valerie Theobold came third and she was really pleased to win. She said: " I love doing anything like this and every year I buy a bit more. I have already bought some more bits for next year."

Councillor Sally Brown was on hand to give out the prizes. She said: "We really appreciate all the hard work that you have put in to your houses and it is nice to be able to acknowledge this today."

Nick Burden, from Ipswich Borough Council, who helped organise the event was also at the prize-giving. The store manager from Sainsbury's at Warren Heath, Ewan MacLean was also there.