TOURISM still plays a vital role on the county's coastal strip.

TOURISM still plays a vital role on the county's coastal strip.

Although the days of two-week bucket and spade holidays at Felixstowe are long gone as people have headed off for cheaper package breaks abroad with the guarantee of warm weather, the area still attracts huge numbers of visitors each year.

Tourism is worth £220 million a year to the Suffolk Coastal economy - creating 4,000 jobs.

Some 477,000 people stay in the area each year and 4.5 million daytrips are said to take place, with people enjoying trips to the seaside and its many countryside attractions, with hotels and guest houses and country cottages enjoying high numbers of bookings.

It is now an all-year-round business.

Operators have diversified to provide different attractions to encourage people to visit, and Felixstowe has regeneration plans with a maritime park and other projects on the cards to bring more families with children.

Manning's Amusement Park's funfair rides used to be the main hub of the town, but today much of the park and the old Cavendish site alongside have been given over to a hugely popular Sunday market, while a Golf FX attraction, newly-refurbished Sands bar and traditional penny machines are bringing people in.

For many people though, the seaside means a sunny day and a stroll along the prom - ice cream and candy floss, and a chance to relax by the sea.