WHEN Steve Perry enjoys a night out on the tiles it doesn't end in a curry or a hangover but an evening of intellectual cut and thrust.

For Mr Perry, 53, is hooked on the game of Scrabble and spends as much of his free time as possible playing the world famous board game.

Now he is organising a huge charity tournament that is acting as a warm-up for players travelling to the Scrabble World Championships in Kuala Lumpur in October.

His son, Andrew, 21, is taking part in the world championships and was the reason for his father becoming hooked on the game.

Mr Perry, of Elm Road, Farringdon, is the chairman of the Highworth Scrabble Club and has been playing the game for almost 20 years.

He said: "I first got into it when my wife sent me to take our son Andrew to an after school Scrabble club when he was eight. I got just as hooked as he did and now we both enjoy tournament playing as often as we can I think my wife truly regrets that decision."

Andrew is studying maths at Warwick University and won't be at Sunday's tournament, which is being played at the Nationwide building in Pipers Way from 10am.

Several other world championship players will be travelling from Exeter, Cardiff and Truro to be among the 180 people taking part in the Swindon tournament.

Describing the universal appeal of Scrabble, Mr Perry said: "It is a fascinating game, a real mix of chance and skill, and the appeal lies in creating the best words, and the tactics you can use to outsmart other players.

"There are strategies and infinite opportunities and it really does help to increase word power. It is also a very social game, as the regular players on the circuit all know each other.

"There are games almost every week somewhere in England and the really dedicated players will travel long distances to be in a tournament, so we all get to know each other well.

"There is always such a good mix of people at tournaments, ranging from the very young to the very old, and those who play for fun to those, like my son, who are good enough to play in the world championships.

"Normally the championships are held in London or Australia, but the players get to go to a slightly more exotic location this time. Obviously this tournament is only for English speakers, but there is a also a French championship which is played along slightly different rules."

A Scrabble tournament runs along knock out rules, similar to chess tournaments, in which all people play six games and the winners of the first game play other winners, and then the winners of that game play other winners and so on until a single winner who has won all six of his games is declared.

Mr Perry said: "There is a wide range of abilities so we try to match players with similar levels of experience and skill. "Some people play just for fun, but for the championship players it is a serious business and we concentrate hard.

"That said, there is never any bad temper, as we are all a fairly well mannered lot."

The winner receives a trophy and there will be small cash prizes for particularly good words or clever pieces of play.

The tournament is in aid of the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, and Mr Perry is hoping to top the £1,800 raised for the Macmillan Cancer Fund last year.

Anyone wishing to enter can call Mr Perry on (01367) 244 757.