Great Yarmouth and its festive ice rink is to take centre stage at the weekend when a national ice hockey tournament comes to town.

Sunday’s UK Winter Classic will see eight teams from across the UK battle it out on the real ice rink in the Market Square, which is organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

The tournament runs from 8.30am to noon and people across the borough are being encouraged to attend.

The UK Winter Classic is the only outdoor ice hockey tournament in the country and is run by Hockey Tutorial.

The tournament, first held in Great Yarmouth during 2015, is being promoted as part of Skate Yarmouth, the additional activities to support town centre footfall and trade this Christmas as part of the council’s year-round Town Centre Initiative.

The competition will see teams of three to nine players compete in knock-out rounds, culminating in semi-finals and the final. Each team will play four to six 15-minute games.

After the tournament, the rink will re-open for public sessions.

The rink is open until Tuesday, January 2, and is sponsored by Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership, Market Gates, Proserv, Palmers, Norse and the Mercury, with media partner The Beach.

Barry Coleman, the council’s chairman of the economic development committee, said: “With all our Skate Yarmouth activities, the core aim is to provide special reasons for people to do their Christmas shopping in our town centre, rather than online or elsewhere.

“The UK Winter Classic is a unique draw for Great Yarmouth and we’re hoping that lots of people will visit on Sunday to see some of the UK’s best amateur ice hockey players in action – completely free-of-charge – while benefitting from free parking and enjoying some Christmas shopping.

“It is great to welcome this prestigious tournament back to the town centre and I expect there will once again be a fantastic atmosphere. Once the competition is over, the rink will re-open to the public and you will have the chance to go on the ice yourself.”

Visit www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/SkateYarmouth to book ice rink tickets, find out about the offers available on tickets and discover more about Skate Yarmouth.