IPSWICH: The red carpet was rolled out as Ipswich welcomed a new star of the town.

Crowds gathered as an express locomotive roared into Ipswich Station, bestowing the name of our proud title - The Evening Star.

At the special naming ceremony two important town institutions joined forced in placing Ipswich on the map.

Steam loco 92220 Evening Star, named after another bright star, was the last locomotive ever built by British Rail and currently rests in a steam museum in Swindon.

Class 90 express engine, operated by National Express, has its Evening Star nameplates, one for each side of the loco, fitted at the region’s Crown Point depot.

Local dignitaries, including Ipswich MP Ben Gummer and the town’s mayor, Councillor Jane Chambers, proudly attended the event to celebrate the 125th birthday of your Star.

Editor Nigel Pickover said: “It is a special day for the Evening Star and a special day for me as a rail enthusiast.

“We have been at the heart of Ipswich for 125 years and now we are at the heart of the railways of East Anglia.”

See Saturday’s Evening Star for the full story.