More than 5,000 people turned up to the World Conker Championships in Ashton on Sunday to watch and enjoy the cracking of conker on conker.

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Organiser John Hadman said: "It was absolutely first class. We had the conkers, we had the spectators and we had the weather. There were a lot of smiling faces.

"People come to the conker championships because it is a great event. We have built it up over the years into a really good family fun day out and it is a way for us to raise as much money as we can to give to charities for the visually impaired."

The village of Ashton has played host to the championships since their inaugural event in 1965, with the village green being transformed into a sporting arena complete with competition podiums.

Each year around 450 players take part in the competition, with the eventual male and female winners being led to the Conker Throne to be crowned with conkers.

This year entrants registered from as far away as Brazil and the Philippines for this most traditional of English competitions.

Liz Gibson, 55, came all the way from Brighton to compete dressed as a witch.

She said: " enter every year and I was the ladies champion in 2002. It is an eccentrically British tradition and everyone has huge amounts of fun."

Esther Wadsworth, 38, from Corby dressed up as Amy Winehouse.
She said: "e come to the conker championships every year and we have a brilliant time. It is a lot of people having fun and everyone always wants to come back."

Visitors not only enjoyed watching the competition, but were entertained throughout the day with around 50 stalls, performances by morris dancers, traditional Molly dancers Pig Dyke Molly and Peterborough Samba Band.

Over its 43-year history the event has raised more than £334,000 for charity and money from this year's event which will go towards charities for the visually impaired.

Ray Hurst, president of Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which sponsored the event said: "We are always happy to sponsor something which is for a good cause, but the main reason for us is to dispel the myths that health and safety stops you from having fun.

"It was good quirky British humour. Where else could you find yourself in a ring with someone dressed up as a crocodile?"

To read more about the championships click here

More pictures in Monday's Evening Telegraph