The first surf contest to take place on Europe's only artificial reef was announced today.

Organisers hope some of Europe's best surfers and bodyboarders will come and test out the South Coast reef in a men's open, 35+, ladies open, and under 18's junior contest on March 20 and 21.

Construction finished on the £3 million reef in Boscombe, Dorset, last November after bad weather delayed it by more than a year.

The Sorted Surf Festival will also play host to the first leg of the British Bodyboarding Annual Championships.

Daily Echo: Click below to see a video of today's headlines in sixty seconds

The events main sponsor Rip Curl will provide the prizes and there will also be demonstration equipment such as surf boards, paddle boards and kayaks to try out.

Gul team riders Mar Harris, known as Igor, and Russel Winter were also expected to be on hand to give advice and sign autographs.

An after party at Urban Beach for contest organisers, sponsors and contest competitors as well as spectators will take place with a BBQ, drink and live music.

The contest will be a chance to silence critics who say the reef does not work and is in the wrong place.

The reef, which has more than doubled in cost, was built by New Zealand-based ASR to enhance waves and is part of an £11 million regeneration of the seafront.

It was created to improve surfing conditions using 55 sand-filled geotextile bags which are 225m (740ft) out to sea and cover the size of a football pitch.

It is one of four artificial reefs worldwide including Narrowneck, Queensland, Cables, Western Australia and Mt Maunganui, New Zealand.

The reef, aimed at putting Boscombe on the surfing map, is designed to provide a grade five wave on a day with good swell which is in the challenging range and compares with the Hawaii Pipeline which is a grade 8.