A SEASIDE town branded “the sun spot of the east coast” is today on-line with a new website to boost its visitor numbers.

A SEASIDE town branded “the sun spot of the east coast” is today on-line with a new website to boost its visitor numbers.

The Visit Felixstowe site went live with an official launch at the Town Hall attended by community leaders, tourism bosses and representatives of the resort's businesses.

Felixstowe Chamber of Trade and Commerce has commissioned the website, which it says is a “huge milestone” for the resort.

It includes information on visitor attractions, eating out, events, accommodation at hotels, bed and breakfast, campsites and self-catering, entertainment, walks and tours, shopping and leisure activities.

The designers Debug Design say the website at www.visitfelixstowe.co.uk will be updated to keep it fresh, with details of new events and attractions, new businesses and promotions.

It has been designed to be user-friendly for families to retired people, and there is the opportunity for newsletters, updates and other information to be automatically sent direct to site visitors.

Chamber chairman Shaun Rudduck said it was a key stage in the area's regeneration project and coincides with the planned major enhancement works which it is hoped will be funded by the newly formed Felixstowe Futures Group.

He said: “This is the first purpose-built website to promote the resort and provide information for all sorts of people who may want to access it.”

The Felixstowe Futures Group is looking at ideas to regenerate the resort and have commissioned consultants to draw up a masterplan for the seafront and town centre. It will be seeking national and European funding for projects.

The website will enable developments to be promoted, as well as providing the information visitors need, from parking areas to events, from where to eat to where to stay.

The project has been managed and part-funded by chamber, in partnership with councils. Funding is still being sought from advertisers to help generate funds to keep the site updated and managed.

What do you think of the new website? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk