THERE was fierce competition but also plenty of laughter when Seagry Primary School held a village conker championship on Saturday.

Teacher Alex Mitchell said the school has organised the traditional autumn contest for the past ten years as a joint social event with the community.

This year's competition was held at The Chestnuts, the home of Tony and Pat Kay, and attracted entries from schoolchildren and their older siblings, former pupils, parents, and villagers.

Pupils prepared for the event by collecting and threading dozens of larger conkers.

Mr Mitchell said: "There was great competition in the different groups. The mums and dads can get really competitive, but everyone really enjoyed it. You could see it from the smiles on their faces and the laughter as they were taking part."

A barbecue was also set up, and refreshments were sold by the Friends of Seagry School Association to raise money for a project to build a new storeroom at the school.

The association recently helped the school to buy three new computers.

Association chairman Sarah Everett said: "The conker championship was a nice, traditional family day, even though the weather was pretty dank."

She said the Friends have already made plans for another fundraising event.

This would be a skittles evening at the Queen's Head pub in Hullavington, on November 10.