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Ed Sheeran's Ipswich show 'might be the last loop pedal gig'

Paul Bird Ed Sheeran at Chantry ParkPaul Bird
About 40,000 fans attended on each of the four nights at Chantry Park

Ed Sheeran used his final show of a record-breaking tour to hint at a change of direction.

The singer-songwriter wrapped up the 260-gig Divide tour with four homecoming gigs in Ipswich.

He is famed for using a loop pedal during performances - allowing him to record his guitar for a backing track and then play more guitar over it.

Closing the final night at Chantry Park, he told fans "this might be the last loop pedal gig".

The two-and-a-half-year world tour has rewritten the money-making record books.

It is the most-attended and highest-grossing tour of all time, having been seen by 7.5m people and raised revenues of more than £666m.

Paul Bird Ed Sheeran at Chantry ParkPaul Bird
Ed Sheeran hinted it might be the "last loop pedal gig"
Paul Bird The Darkness at Chantry Park, IpswichPaul Bird
The Darkness, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, supported Sheeran on each of the four nights in Ipswich
Ed Goddard/BBC Ed Sheeran with Richard Haugh and Angelle JosephEd Goddard/BBC
Sheeran in his Framlingham Town and Ipswich Town football shirts, and pictured with BBC Introducing in Suffolk's Richard Haugh and Angelle Joseph
Geoff Robinson Ed Sheeran at Chantry ParkGeoff Robinson
Fans were treated to four days of sunny weather in the park in south Ipswich

During the final night, the 28-year-old donned a Framlingham Town football shirt, in honour of the club from the Suffolk town where he grew up.

On the previous three nights, he wore his own branded Ipswich Town shirt.

As he waved goodbye to the crowd on Monday, he told them "see you in two years".

Ed Sheeran
Sheeran wore a specially-designed Ipswich Town football shirt on three of the nights

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Over the four days, about 160,000 fans basked in the hot and sunny weather in the park in south Ipswich.

Sheeran was supported by The Darkness each night, while Passenger performed on the first two nights and Lewis Capaldi took to the stage for the final two nights.

Four local acts, three chosen by BBC Introducing in Suffolk and one by clothing company Hoax, opened the gigs. They were Bessie Turner, Piers James, Salvador and Caswell.

Salvador
Salvador were one of the four local acts who opened the homecoming gigs

On the penultimate night, the singer was joined on stage by rapper Stormzy, with whom he has just released the single Take Me Back to London.

The Divide tour began in Europe in 2017 and has taken in North and South America, Africa, Australasia and Asia.

It beat the previous highest-grossing tour, U2's 360 Degrees Tour, which made £450m from its 110 shows between 2009 and 2011.