A LARGE number of civic leaders from around Suffolk were welcomed to Bungay on Sunday for the town's annual civic service.They were welcomed by the Mayor, John Warnes and the Town Reeve, Professor Christopher Hand, at the council offices, before processing through the town via the Market Place to St Mary's Church for the service.

A LARGE number of civic leaders from around Suffolk were welcomed to Bungay on Sunday for the town's annual civic service.

They were welcomed by the Mayor, John Warnes and the Town Reeve, Professor Christopher Hand, at the council offices, before processing through the town via the Market Place to St Mary's Church for the service.

There they joined a large congregation welcomed by the Vicar of Bungay, the Rev Ian Byrne, who led the service.

The Mayor and Town Reeve read the lessons, the preacher was the Rev Linda Jacquet, assistant curate in the Bungay Benefice, and the Rev Roger Allen, ordained coal minister in the benefice, led prayers.

During the service, members of Bungay Choral Society, directed by Vic Kendrick, sung two anthems. Organist was Liz Vennard.

Afterwards, at a reception at the Fisher Theatre, the Mayor welcomed guests and others in the congregation.

Civic leaders attending included the mayors of Beccles, Woodbridge, Ipswich and Southwold, the chairman of Suffolk County Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, St Edmundsbury District Council and Waveney District Council, and Bungay's county councillor, David Ritchie.

Also in the procession were members of Bungay Town Council and Bungay Town Trust, and representatives of nine other town organisations, including schools, making it one of the largest parades for some years.

It was led by the standards of Bungay Royal British Legion and the Bungay Guide movement.