Hundreds of people have enjoyed an impromptu morning gig from Ed Sheeran at Ipswich Waterfront.
Sheeran teased on Thursday night he would be at the waterfront at 09:00 BST, but gave no more details.
The crowds were out early getting their spot around the university before the star arrived just before 09:30 BST.
Delighting the fans with Thinking Out Loud, The A Team and other hits, Sheeran finished his short set and told the crowd: “I hope you have a fabulous summer and I’m looking forward to the Premier League next season.”
He added: “Thank you to the kids that are missing school today… apologies to the parents but thanks for bringing them along – this is fun.
“I heard some people are doing GCSEs today. Sorry, I wasn’t aware of that.
“I’ve got back from nine months in America and I am so happy to be back in Suffolk.”
Before he played, music teacher Lianne Kaye, 30, from Chelmsford, warmed up the crowds and even got to sing The A Team with Sheeran himself.
She said she had had to fly back from holiday in Spain in order to be there.
As it happened: Ed Sheeran performs surprise gig in Ipswich
“I flew to Malaga on Tuesday and came back last night. [I had] two hours sleep,” she said.
“The flight was delayed – of course it was – so [it was] all a bit chaotic, but I wasn’t going to miss it for the world so I’m so glad that I did it.”
Kaye, who previously lived in Holbrook, near Ipswich, said there was a “friendly atmosphere”, and duetting with Sheeran felt “natural” thanks to his down to earth personality.
“It hasn’t sunk in at all,” she added.
The gig was organised as part of a promotion for an amplifier manufacturer.
Sheeran delighted young fan Felix, nine, who had taken his own guitar along, by giving him a new amplifier, and the youngster said it had been a dream come true to see the star.
“I didn’t think he was going to come over. I thought he was going to go past,” Felix said.
“He just said, ‘Here you are’, and he tapped me on the shoulder.”
