PING Pong tables have sprung up over Bournemouth and Poole again this year as a free outdoor festival returns.

The street table tennis event called Ping! has seen over 25 tables pop up at several locations including Poole Park, Sandbanks beach, and Tuckton Tea Gardens.

The Bournemouth and Poole festival has been organised by Active Dorset in partnership with the borough councils.

Similar festivals are taking place across the country, including the New Forest. Last year, over 750 tables were placed in public spaces of 21 towns and cities, with 1.8million visits to the tables over the summer.

James Day, sports development officer at Active Dorset, said: “We are very lucky to have sustained a Ping! legacy in Bournemouth and Poole, and I am very excited because of how successful the project was last year.

“This summer, alongside your old favourites, there are brand new tables in a variety of fantastic locations so just pick up a bat and start playing.”

The festival, funded by Sport England, is free to take part in – all people have to do is grab one of the bats and balls provided at the tables, find a willing opponent and get playing. The aim of the festival is to get the nation active and enjoying playing ping pong, and to build a community of participants who want to continue playing table tennis long after the festival is over.

Bournemouth councillor Robert Lawton said: “Ping! is a fun way to get everybody more active together. You might even discover areas of the town you aren’t as familiar with. I’m delighted that Ping! is returning and I urge you to head out and track down the tables for some free family fun.”

A map showing the locations of all the table tennis tables can be found by visiting pingengland.co.uk/bournemouth.