Table Tennis England has signed an agreement with Derby Arena to host the Junior British League and Veterans’ British League for the next three seasons.

The venue staged both JBL weekends and one of the VBL events this season and proved popular with players and officials.

The VBL will merge next season with the Veterans’ National League – the VNL will form the lower leagues of the VBL. This responds to requests from players and will ensure a good atmosphere and allow players from both events to socialise together.

With a capacity for 38 tables on the infield of the velodrome, Derby Arena is the largest venue to be used by Table Tennis England.

British League Chairman Chris Dangerfield said: “Good quality facilities for events the size of JBL and VBL are not easy to find, so I am delighted that we have been able to secure this fantastic venue for the next three years.”

Councillor Paul Pegg, the Lord Mayor of Derby, is also delighted with the deal. He said: “I am really pleased and excited that the British League events are returning to Derby for the next three years.”

The VBL will be in Derby on September 17-18 this year and February 18-19, 2017. The JBL weekends are October 22-23 this year and January 21-22, 2017.