Thousands of bowls fans will flock to Sussex when an international tournament is held in the south for the first time.

The first World Bowls Tour event ever to be staged in the south of England – featuring the world’s leading indoor bowlers – will take place at the Olympos Centre in Burgess Hill.

The week-long tournament, which starts on November 23, is expected to bring more than £1million into the town's economy.

Bowls enthusiasts from across the world will descend on the town, providing a timely boost to the area's hotels and tourism industry.

Mid Sussex District Council chairman Margaret Hersey said: “We are delighted that the World Bowls Tour is bringing the International Open to Burgess Hill - it's a real honour for us all.

"The Olympos Burgess Hill has hosted a number of major sports events, but this will be our first bowls championship. “We are really looking forward to the event putting Burgess Hill on the sporting map around the world."

With live coverage on BBC, the event will feature the top 16 bowlers in the world, joined by qualifiers from the UK, Australia, South Africa, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel and New Zealand. For ticket details, call 01444 876060.