Britain's newest boatshow at Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, will be the setting for a major industry launch.

Broom Boats of Brundall will be taking the wraps off its Broom 28, a small river cruiser targeting the Broads market.

Archant magazine Anglia Afloat (AA) will be staging its first show at the Wherry Hotel on Saturday, February 1 from 10am to 4pm and event organiser Duncan Abel, AA's advertisement manager, has been encouraged by the response from exhibitors as well as the wider public.

He said: 'We have already had more than 425 people pre-register for free tickets; having seen a big increase in requests over the past five or six days I am confident we will comfortably surpass 500 which is tremendous.'

There had also been a significant surge in interest by exhibitors which meant all inside spaces had now been sold.

He said: 'We are going to have more than 25 exhibitors. For a first-time small boat show it has been a fantastic response and I am confident it will be the start of something really big and really different.'

The Broom 28, a cruiser sleeping up to four people with a 38hp Nanni diesel engine on hydraulic drive and such features as twin sliding sunroofs, bonded windows, cream leather upholstery with satin walnut woodwork and Avonite work surfaces, will be exhibited by the firm's agent, Hoveton-based Norfolk Boat Sales.

Marketing manager Kerry Sharp said: 'It is really exciting how much interest the new show is getting. The Broom 28 has not been seen anywhere else yet.'

She said they would also be showing a Broom Ocean 38 and a launch built by English Harbour Yachts, of Oundle near Peterborough.

Alongside Broom, other major industry players exhibiting from across the region include Haines of Catfield, whose agent Norfolk Yacht Agency, of Brundall, will be taking along both its 32 Sedan, the most successful model in its history, as well as the larger 42 Elegance.

Director Mary Haines said: 'The support of Anglia Afloat is good for the area. Every new show helps companies, especially in the off season.

'This is the time when people think about changing their boat and shows like this one keep boating activity alive in people's minds.'

Exhibitors from further afield will include the Fish and Duck Marina at Ely and Hertford Marina in Huntingdon.

Closer to home, the International Boat Building Training Centre in Oulton Broad will have a stand in the Wherry Hotel's spacious function room.

There will also be boats on trailers in the car park and a number on moorings.

It is hoped that the show's location, on the Broads but close to the coast, will encourage the display of offshore as well as river boats.

To register for free tickets email editor@angliaafloat.co.uk. Tickets on the door will cost £2.