A Pokemon character at Doncaster Lakeside.

Doncaster Council is behind the event later this month as the mobile phone gaming craze which has become a worldwide hit continues to grip the town.

The event on July 30 will see players descend on Lakeside to search for the cuddly virtual reality critters which have been spotted all over Doncaster.

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The council's chief executive Jo Miller is among those hooked on the game, yesterday tweeting a picture of her first monster find adding:"You've got me at it!"

A Doncaster Council spokesman said: "Doncaster’s Lakeside has become known as one of the best places in the area for Pokemon hunting, thanks to the new PokemonGo app.

"On Saturday 30 July, we will be hosting a special Pokemon and Picnic event for all local trainers, including a walk round the fabulous lake and a chance to catch some rare Water Pokemon!"

"There will be something for everyone, including a special treasure hunt for non-Pokemon players or those who run out of battery."

There will also be special Pokemon events for more experienced trainers, which are set to attract fans from around South Yorkshire to battle it out.

The free day will get underway at 11am at Doncaster Lakeside (Keepmoat Stadium entrance).

The game, which lets players roam a map using their phone's GPS location to find and catch Pokemon characters to train and battle, has already become a huge hit in the USA, Australia and Germany and now Doncaster players are getting in on the action.

A Facebook page, Pokemon Go Doncaster, has become a huge hit and allows players to swap tips, share photos and discuss sightings and already has more than 500 members, despite only being set up a few days ago.

The main aim of the mobile phone game is to catch Pokemon - pocket monsters - which pop up along the way. The game provides an augmented reality experience, using the smartphone's camera to provide a live view of the world, with Pokemon superimposed.