Girl Guides, Mencap and Anglia Care Trust among 70 groups given free tickets to Festival of Suffolk finale Let's Rock Ipswich this weekend

The organisers of a retro festival in Ipswich have given over 1,000 tickets to charities and community groups so those they support can enjoy the festivities.

UK Live, the organisers in charge Let's Rock Ipswich, the finale of the summer-long Festival of Suffolk, want anyone in the county to by able enjoy the event this Saturday.

This includes people who otherwise may not have the opportunity to attend, such as those struggling financially, or with mental health issues.

The Festival of Suffolk, itself an extension of the jubilee celebrations, will close out with top acts from the 1980s performing at Trinity Park.

OMD, Nik Kershaw, Adam Ant and more will entertain crowds at the event.

Charities given tickets include Anglia Care Trust, Sudbury's The Bridge Project and Lowestoft and District Mencap.

A Girl Guides group in Ipswich are also being treated to the day out.

In total, 70 charities and community groups have been offered free tickets.

Jac Guyton from Lowestoft and District Mencap said: “The members we are bringing love music and none of them will ever have done anything like this before.

“It’s going to be such an eye-opener for them and the whole experience of seeing all the live bands will be something for them to always remember.

"They all love music and we’ve had 1980s nights several times, as they really enjoy 80s music and know a lot of it.

She added: "We will be up, and dancing, and we will dress up – 80s style. We are very excited and can’t wait.”

The organisers report that over 100,000 people from 250 communities enjoyed the Festival of Suffolk this year.

Events at the summer-long celebration connected young people with potential employers, saw 500,000 trees and hedgerows planted, and Community Games encouraged families to get involved in sport.

All this was kicked off by the famous Suffolk Show on Jubilee weekend.

Nick Billinghurst, the director of UK Live, said: "It’s been wonderful to see just how many tens of thousands of people have joined in so far and we are really proud to have extended this free invitation to festival volunteers, over 70 local charities, community groups and families they support.

"We look forward to welcoming them all to Trinity Park and hope you all enjoy the most fabulous time."

Tickets for the event are still on sale at the event's website.