Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls, the biggest outdoor open bowling event in the country, returns to its seafront greens this bank holiday weekend, with more than 1,200 bowlers competing over four weeks.

Organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and managed by bowls stalwart Derek Webster and the Festival of Bowls committee, this year’s festival will take place on the Britannia Bowling Greens between Sunday, August 28 and Friday, September 23.

Now in its 71st year and attracting novice and expert players of all ages from across the UK, the annual festival is free to watch, and there is plenty of seating around the greens from which to watch the play.

Derek, who has managed the festival for 22 years, said: “This year’s festival looks to be another big year, with hundreds of players competing in men’s, ladies and mixed teams for singles, pairs, triples and fours titles. Bowls is a sport for all ages – we even have an under-25s category.

“Great Yarmouth is the UK’s bowls capital and Great Yarmouth seafront is the best bowls venue in the country – you can’t beat it for atmosphere, and people come back year-on-year to meet old friends as well as for the high standard of play.”

New sponsors in 2016 are Peers Premier Apartments, Harbour Radio and Brewer’s Chip Saloon.

For the first time, the Potters Bowls shop will also be onsite.