A new organiser is taking over the driving seat for one of the key events on Great Yarmouth's events calendar. 

Visit Great Yarmouth will replace Great Yarmouth Borough Council as managers and co-ordinators of The Wheels Festival on June 29 and 30 next year.

Changes in budgets have forced the council to pass control of the event to tourism bosses.

Carl Smith, borough council leader, said: “We are keen to see the success of the event continue, and now as it enters its eighth year, we feel the time is right to pass the delivery of the festival to our partners at Visit Great Yarmouth.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A three-wheeled motorcycle at this year's Wheels Festival in Great Yarmouth. A three-wheeled motorcycle at this year's Wheels Festival in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Visit Great Yarmouth)

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"Having long supported the event, I am confident they will put on a great Wheels Festival in 2024 and I encourage you all to go along and support them.”

The festival will continue its tradition of collecting for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Lyndon Bevan, chair of Visit Great Yarmouth, said: "We are looking forward to taking the baton from the council and matching its huge success. We have big shoes to fill but we are ready and excited to start the planning stages.”

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The event date has been forced to move from its usual weekend next year because the British Grand Prix will take place on July 9.

Its new date on June 29 and 30 is the same weekend as the two-day Caister Festival, and discussions are underway between Visit Great Yarmouth and the Caister Festival organisers for both events to benefit.

Kevin Wood, Caister Parish Council chair, who also chairs the Caister Festival committee, said the committee was working alongside Visit Great Yarmouth for some of the cars and bikes from Wheels to travel to Caister for people at both events to enjoy.

“This year, with the Wheels Festival in Great Yarmouth, we will have space for about 200 cars and bikes to visit Caister Festival bringing a new dimension to our growing event," he added.