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Pictures: Ed Sheeran plays first Ipswich homecoming gig

Zakary Walters Ed Sheeran in IpswichZakary Walters
Up to 160,000 people are expected to watch the singer-songwriter over four nights in Ipswich

Ed Sheeran kicked off the final stop on his record-breaking world tour in front of his home fans.

The singer-songwriter told the crowd of 40,000 on Friday he was "so happy" to be ending his Divide tour over four nights in Ipswich.

He was supported by fellow Suffolk rockers The Darkness and a local act chosen through BBC Introducing.

By the end of the tour the 28-year-old will have spent 893 days on the road, eclipsing U2's previous 760-day mark.

Zakary Walters Ed Sheeran in IpswichZakary Walters
Suffolk boy Ed grew up in Framlingham, about 20 miles from Ipswich, and still resides close by - when he is not on the road

Fans began queuing at dawn to get their spots at the front, with some having travelled thousands of miles to be there.

"This feels really, really weird and cool for me to be able to stand on stage in the place that I was brought up and that I live," said Sheeran.

"I did do the typical musician thing where you think that you have to move to LA, so I moved to LA and hated everything about it.

"But I've lived back here for sort of, like, seven years and I just love being here and I'm so happy to be able to end the tour here."

BBC Daniel Fuxa and Elizabeth Lara VillacisBBC
Fans began queuing outside the gates hours before the show. Daniel Fuxa and Elizabeth Lara Villacis met through an Ed Sheeran fan group - and now live together.
BBC Ed's stageBBC
The huge stage was constructed over a number of days inside Ipswich's Chantry Park
BBC Piers JamesBBC
Local rapper Piers James took to the stage during the early evening
BBC Ed Sheeran fansBBC
Fans flooded in early to get their spots at the front in the evening sunshine
BBC The DarknessBBC
Justin Hawkins and The Darkness, hailing from Lowestoft, tore through a set of rock numbers
BBC Ed SheeranBBC
Ed played a number of his greatest hits, including Shape of You
BBC Ed SheeranBBC
During the night Ed emerged in a specially-designed Ipswich Town football shirt
Zakary Walters Ed Sheeran in IpswichZakary Walters
He thanked his fans who had travelled from all over the world, including New Zealand
Zakary Walters Ed Sheeran in IpswichZakary Walters
A loud applause erupted as his show came to a climax
BBC Ed Sheeran fans at Chantry ParkBBC
The performance went down well with the 40,000 fans at Chantry Park

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