CHRISTMAS lights all across Ipswich have gone out overnight, prompting fears today that the town has fallen victim to the dastardly deeds of a wicked queen.

CHRISTMAS lights all across Ipswich have gone out overnight, prompting fears today that the town has fallen victim to the dastardly deeds of a wicked queen.

The Christmas lights were switched on for the first night of late-night shopping last Thursday and stayed on until last night's shoppers returned home.

However, late in the evening the town centre returned to darkness and organisers of Ipswich's Christmas events fear it could be work of the star of the Regent Theatre's Christmas pantomime.

The wicked queen - in the guise of the former Eastenders' star Anita Dobson - was seen tampering with the cables and there are fears she has put a spell over the town.

But the lights' organisers, the Ipswich Partnership, are hoping that her magic can be undone by a show of solidarity on the Cornhill on Sunday.

There will be music on the Cornhill from 1pm until the middle of the afternoon but the main event starts after the shops shut their doors.

Stars from the pantomime, including Sooty and Sweep with their minder Richard Cadell, will be trying to work their own kind of magic and get the lights to come on again.

And they want families to go along to the steps of the town hall at 5pm to help cast off the wicked witch's spell.

There will be entertainment, with snow confidently predicted to fall, and by the end of the event all the town's lights should be shining brightly.

Ben Collins, from the Ipswich Partnership which is organising Sunday's fun, said: “It should be a really good day for all the family.

“We have got the stars from the pantomime coming along, a spectacular light show and there will be lots of snow - we promise that whatever the weather.”

Although the official start time is 5pm, in previous years crowds have built up early so the Cornhill has been closed by the police.

Mr Collins said: “If we reach that situation before 5pm, we may get things underway a bit earlier so our message is to get along to the Cornhill as soon as possible.”

Weblinks:

www.ipswichristmas.com

www.ipswich-ents.com

n What do you think of Ipswich town centre's Christmas decorations this year? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

N Snow White was one of the fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm during the early 19th century - but it may have had its origin as a German folk tale.

N Disney's Snow White was the first ever full-length feature cartoon.

N This year's Ipswich witch, Anita Dobson, may be best known as Angie in EastEnders but last year she showed her versatility by playing Gertrude in Hamlet. She is married to Queen guitarist Brian May.

N Sooty and Sweep were discovered by ventriloquist Harry Corbett (not Harry H Corbett as may internet listings claim - he played Harold Steptoe!) in 1952 and have been children's favourites ever since.