Those living in Ipswich will have the chance to share how Covid and the pandemic affected them, as the government's ongoing inquiry comes to the town.

The Covid-19 Inquiry team will be coming to Suffolk for two days as part of a series of nationwide Every Story Matters community events.

These events will give people the opportunity to share with the team first-hand how the pandemic affected them, without the formality of giving evidence or attending a public hearing.

The inquiry was set up in June 2022 to examine the UK’s response to and handling of the pandemic, so that lessons can be learned for the future.

The inquiry team will be at Ipswich Town Hall from 10am to 4.30pm on Monday, August 5, and Tuesday, August 6.

Inquiry secretary Ben Connah said: “Each of us has a unique story to tell about the pandemic. It affected everyone, in family life, in the workplace, in our schools and communities. This is a chance to have your experience feed into the Inquiry and help inform our investigation.

“From day one of the Inquiry, we have wanted to hear experiences from all corners of the country, from people in all walks of life. This will ensure we get a full picture of the pandemic’s impact on people living and working across the UK.”

Councillor John Cook is Ipswich Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Communities and Sport.

He said: “Given that all our residents and communities were impacted by the pandemic and have valuable experiences to share, we welcome the UK Covid-19 Inquiry choosing Ipswich as a location for their engagement.

“We encourage all our residents who wish to participate to be involved in sharing their memories and stories through this event.”