One hundred table tennis tables will spring up across London's most visible spaces, including squares, landmarks, offices, trains stations and airports, as part of a Sport England-funded project.

The Ping! project will provide tables for free, impromptu use, alongside a programme of masterclasses, competitions and other activities such as the 'singles for singles' dating event. Half of the tables will remain in place as permanent fixtures to keep up the momentum.

After the London launch - which will run for a month from 24 July - the scheme will be rolled out to four other UK cities, though these are yet to be finalised.

Ping! is being delivered by Sing London, a participatory arts organisation, and the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA).

Richard Yule, ETTA's chief executive, said: "It is fantastic for table tennis to be at the forefront of further cutting edge interventions to increase sustainable mass participation.

"We recognise there is a growing and significant demand for informal opportunities to play table tennis that is outside of the scope of our traditional club and league structure. Ping! and the outdoor table initiatives will allow us to embrace this growing market and also re-establish table tennis in the public's imagination as a fun, sociable and desirable sport to play."