GLADIATOR jousting and sumo wrestling will be among the activities as a York church transforms the city centre into an arena for family fun.

Thousands of people are expected to attend Global’s summer tour event in Parliament Street tomorrow.

Activities, all of which are free, will include face-painting, cage football, a bouncy castle, a bungee run, a nail bar and a Global café.

Visitors will also be able to put on giant sumo suits and wrestle each other out of a ring or climb onto a huge inflatable and compete in a gladiator jousting challenge. Organisers say it is the largest free family event running in the city over the summer.

Global, a charity and a church dedicated to bringing success to York, is staging summer tour events throughout the holidays across the city, including Acomb, Clifton and Poppleton.

Rich Martin, one of Global’s leaders, said: “We are passionate about York and the summer tours are a great way for us to put a smile on peoples’ faces. This is our sixth year of putting on the tours and our Parliament Street event will be the most family-oriented one we’ve ever done.”

More than 45 volunteers will stage the event and three live bands, including one from Global’s youth academy, will perform throughout the day.

Global is also running a family event on every Sunday of the school holidays from 3.30pm to 5pm, at the Global Centre, Low Poppleton Lane.

Event volunteer Matt McGale, a member of Global’s Academy programme, said: “Families love our summer tours and really go for it in the sumo ring.”

For details, log on to the Global website at globalyork.com