A SPECIAL free event to encourage people to play table tennis is returing to the city.

Ping is set to return to Chelmsford for the summer, the city is just one of a handful of regions that have been selected to be part of Ping!

This national initiative will see 22 free-to-use table tennis tables installed at popular locations around the City of Chelmsford.

Funded by Sport England and run in partnership with Table Tennis England, the purpose of Ping! is to get as many people as possible to play Table Tennis, bringing about a sense of community and helping them connect to the city and its green spaces.

The launch of Ping! Chelmsford will take place at 10am on Sunday July 16 in the City Centre.

Tables will be available in the high street, parks and other locations and there will be free coaching sessions available at Ping HQ in the amphitheatre in Bond Street.

Julia Jeapes, councillor for leisure said: “This is the third year running Chelmsford has been selected to be part of this fantastic initiative. The tables will be there for everybody to use and enjoy for free. To join the fun, all people will have to do is simply pick up a bat and ball from the side of the table and get playing – it’s as easy as that!”

Ping! Chelmsford will run until early September and the semi-permanent tables will be moved to sites around the whole of the city area.

For more information about Ping! and how you can get involved, visit: www.pingengland.co.uk/chelmsford, call 01245 606569 or email: csaw@chelmsford.gov.uk