The UK’s biggest fancy dress dodgeball festival will arrive in Finsbury Park for the first time next weekend.

Mencap’s Team Dodgeball Championships – set to attract more than 1,000 people – will take over the park on Saturday, September 5.

The tournament was established in 2009 by Guy Yarrow, the son of the Lord Mayor of London, whose brother had a learning disability. All proceeds go to Mencap.

Teams of eight compete in at lease seven games, with prizes awarded for the winning and best dressed teams.

The festival feel will be completed by food and drinks stalls, and a team of DJs from the Islington Social Crew – who all have learning disabilities – playing music.

Rachel Croshaw, of Mencap’s events team, said: “There seems to be very few charity events which 20 to 30-somethings could go to which have an affordable ticket price – too many £80 black tie events and not enough good value fancy dress events.

“Our dodgeball event seems to get more popular every year and we’re blown away by the enthusiasm people put in, both in the tournament itself and the fancy dress.

“People love the chance to play dodgeball whilst raising money for a good cause, with one player saying it’s better than Christmas – but she was dressed as Father Christmas.

“We can’t thank enough all the people who have already signed up, the funds raised will make a real difference to support people with a learning disability who are too often ignored by wider society.”

Registration for the event – which starts at 11am – costs £32.50 per person, with entrance to an after party from 5.30pm in King’s Cross costing £10.

Register or find out more information here