Landlubbers beware - Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre will be overrun by pirates in a series of family fun weekends from September 16 to October 8, with a special extra day event on Tuesday, September 19 to celebrate International Talk like a Pirate Day.

The pirate weekends will see visitors transformed into dastardly pirates complete with their own hats before embarking on a search for pirate doubloons in a scavenger hunt throughout the aquarium.

Pirate fancy dress is highly recommended and youngsters who discover all the pieces of hidden treasure will be treated to a prize. Plus, there will be opportunities to enter a prize draw and win a Merlin Annual Pass with access to Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Legoland and many more attractions.

Sea Life staff themselves will also be overtaken by pirate fever, donning their own pirate gear to hold a “pirate school” with lessons in swashbuckling sword fighting, walking the plank and how to talk like a pirate. Recruits to Sea Life pirate school will be invited to take a pirate pledge and protect the seven seas to win a conservation medal.

Pirate Weekends take place at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre on September 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30, as well as on Tuesday, September 19, followed by October 1, 7 and 8.

All activities are included in the usual admission price. Pre-booking is advised by visiting www.visitsealife.com/great-yarmouth and save 30pc.