Free films are to be shown on giant screens in Huddersfield this summer.

The films will be aimed at family audiences and will be shown on three weekends in June, July and August in St George’s Square.

Organisers hope thousands will pack into the Square for the film nights which follow the success of film events during the Tour de Yorkshire Grand Depart and the Festival of Light.

The events will also see food and drinks on offer during the film weekends.

Huddersfield recruitment firm Stafflex has teamed up with festival organisation Food Festivals to organise the events. They are going ahead despite Kirklees Council having to cancel funding for events such as the Festival of Light.

There will be a Food and Drink Festival in August in the Square, for a 15th year.

For the film evenings, the square will play host to a supersize outdoor LED cinema screen with rows of seats to screen films chosen by families.

Films under consideration include Shrek. Mama Mia!, Grease, Frozen and Ice Age.

Cathy Burger, founder of Food Festivals, said: “The idea of the Big Screen Weekends came after the success of the Tour de Yorkshire and the Festival of Light 2014 where a big screen and food and drink stalls were part of the event.

“At the Festival of Light, over 3,000 people watched Frozen in the square and that was done on a dark, cold night – so imagine what we could achieve in the summer?”

The Big Screen Weekends will run from 10am to 9pm and each day will have film viewings at 11am, 3pm and 7pm. The weekends are June 27/28, July 25/26 and August 22/23. During the day advertisers’ videos will be shown as well as short films relating to Huddersfield.

Local food and drink businesses will be exhibiting on the day and other local businesses are invited to exhibit.

Nadio Granata, head of marketing at Stafflex, said “Stafflex is celebrating 15 years in business this year.

“We wanted to give something back to the community and have been researching opportunities for some time. When Food Festivals came to us with this idea we couldn’t resist. We are thrilled to be able to support something that we believe the town will really enjoy.

“While it will not be a food and drink festival as such, it will enable visitors to spend a few hours in the fantastic St George’s Square, enjoying some great movies with a drink and a bite to eat, hopefully accompanied by some fantastic weather.”