Organisers of public events are increasingly turning to one of the Midlands' leading venues as its reputation grows on the nationwide stage.

The International Centre, Telford, is proving particularly popular with hobby and collectors shows, and its diary is busy over the coming months with several new and returning events.

Southwater Event Group chief executive, Tom Gray, said: "Public events are a real growth area for our business, and we're extremely pleased to have secured these bookings for 2012.

"It's a fantastic start to a new year, and we're looking forward to welcoming even more events of this kind as the year progresses."

January will see Tattoo Freeze return to The International Centre for the third year running - it will take place on January 15 and will run alongside a new event, Camper Mart.

Classic Off-Road Bike Show will return to the venue on February 4 and 5, showcasing classic bikes from the 1930s to the 1990s.

Another popular event in the Telford calendar is MCM Expo. The one-day show on February 18 will feature World of Warcraft, art competitions, and fans dressed as their favourite characters - elves mingle with Ninja from the Hidden Villages and Jedi, making the event full of colour and life.

Ultimate Dubs arrives at the venue on March 11, with show cars from Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat and Audi, and it's a must for all enthusiasts.

For sports fans, the Tai Kwon Do English Championships is at The International Centre on March 18, and cake enthusiasts will love the British Sugarcraft Exhibition on May 19 and 20.

The show will feature trade stands, sugarcraft displays, a competition area, and a "have-a-go" area where visitors can test their skills and learn new ones.

"Our diary is filling up fast and it's clear that our venue is firmly on the map when it comes to public events, which is excellent news not only for the Southwater Event Group, but for the Telford area as a whole," said Tom.