TABLE tennis is being hailed the perfect ice breaker when it comes to meeting new people.

Social Ping Pong is making a return next week when Ping! Carlisle is re-launched in at the Central Methodist Hall.

These popular evenings were previously held in Greystone Community Centre. However they stopped in May 2015 after the previous organiser, Dave Bradley, moved away from the city.

Around the same time Matthew Wallace, from Dumfries, was looking to establish a new Table Tennis Club in Carlisle in the former YMCA premises on Fisher Street.

The amount of work required resulted in a delay to the opening - so when the Methodist Central Hall became available this was seen as the perfect temporary home for table tennis in the city.

It was then by chance that David and Matthew got in touch via social media and decided to relaunch Ping! Carlisle at the new venue.

Table Tennis was once a popular sport played in and around Carlisle, with a well-supported league and local championships. Many players regularly went on to represent Cumbria nationally.

Back then it was played everywhere from schools to works canteens, social clubs to village halls. Teams from Penrith, Wigton, Annan and Dumfries also travelled to Carlisle play in the local league.

In recent years the sport has seen a resurgence in popularity, with the opening of dedicated ping pong clubs like Bounce in London and Spin in the USA. Actress Susan Sarandon is among the high-profile celebrity fans.

The new Carlisle facility hopes to build on that popularity, welcoming players of all abilities to the social evenings.

They are keen to see former players return, along with lots of new faces.

The Ping! relaunch takes place on Thursday, January 12 from 7pm until 9.30pm at the Methodist Central Hall.

For more serious players looking for regular competitive matches there will be an open night the following Thursday.

Both cost £4 per person to help cover costs. Equipment is provided.

For more details follow Ping! Carlisle on Facebook.