TV cameras will be rolling this weekend at the Littlehampton Regatta, which is being featured on Sky Sports.

The town has been chosen as one of the main venues of the Zapcat National Race Series, a new high-speed sport, which was only introduced to Britain last year.

The television cameras will be filming around 40 Zapcats, which are small catamarans, as they race along the seafront.

Spectators will be able to get close to the action, which takes place just a few metres off the shore.

Mike Northeast, chairman of the regatta group, said: "This year's regatta is all about putting Littlehampton on the world stage and we are doing that with the Zapcat racing.

"Littlehampton beach is the ideal venue for this fast and furious sport and because they compete so close to the beach spectators get a great view."

The annual two-day regatta celebrates the town's waterside heritage and draws crowds of up to 40,000.

As well as Zapcat racing, this year's event will feature offshore yacht races, river dinghy races, vintage ships and a floating stage.

Mr Northeast said: "Even if you don't like speedboat racing, there are more sedate things like taking a trip on a 100-year-old Thames barge."