Suffolk is in the final five for BBC Countryfile Magazine’s Holiday Destination of the Year 2018 – and needs your vote to scoop the prestigious award.

Ipswich Star: The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNThe Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

The county is up against the Forest of Bowland, the Pembrokeshire Coast, the Isle of Wight and Speyside, and the public have from Friday, January 19 until midnight on Monday, March 5 to have their say on who wins.

Colin Noble, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “I am delighted that Suffolk has been nominated for the Holiday Destination of the Year award.

“We have a fantastic visitor offer and the nomination is recognition of the hard work that Visit Suffolk, businesses and councils put in to promoting our county. I would encourage everyone to help us now to win the award by voting for Suffolk.”

Amanda Bond, from Visit Suffolk, said: “Suffolk is a rather special holiday destination, but we need to work harder to shout about how great it is.

“This campaign helps to put Suffolk on the tourism map and showcase us as a serious competitor against other leading UK destinations.

“We know that the staycation market has flattened, so we have to compete much harder for that all important tourism spend.

“However, if we can raise our profile nationally, it will certainly assist in driving interest around holidaying in Suffolk, and in turn, give a welcomed boost to the local economy as a whole.

“We urge everyone to back the campaign and get voting for Suffolk from the 19th January.”

• Launch of Suffolk Day 2018 - tell us why you love our countySue Warren, brand and marketing manager for Bury’s St Edmunds’ new tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond said: “It’s fantastic news that Suffolk has been shortlisted for Holiday Destination of the Year in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018. There is so much to do in our beautiful county.

“In the Bury St Edmunds area alone there is more than 1,000 years of history to explore, fantastic annual events and festivals, great shopping and award-winning restaurants plus wonderful parks and gardens and the charming wool towns on our doorstep.

“It really is a jewel in the crown of Suffolk. I’m very pleased that our great county has been recognised in this way.”

You can vote online at countryfile.com/awards from Friday.

The winner is set to be announced in mid March.