No-rules conkers contest
Conker fans are busy baking, pickling and using other cunning techniques to toughen up their horse chestnuts ahead of a no-rules contest in Shropshire this weekend.
Rivals will go head-to-head on Sunday in the annual charity conker contest near Cheswardine - and anything will go with some competitors even expected to use glue to make sure their conkers do not take a bashing.
The event will be held at the Wharf Tavern, Goldstone, with competitors expected to get through hundreds of conkers.
Keith Kingsbury, organiser, said in previous years strict rules had been imposed to ensure there was no cheating but a previous no-rules contest had been the most peaceful competition ever, so it was being repeated.
Mr Kingsbury revealed cheating was not necessarily a key to success, because one person last year used adhesive but was knocked out in the first round.
He said: "That certainly made me laugh and the competition is about having some fun."
This year's event has been split into a section for children under-14 and one for adults.
Admission to the competition is £1 per conker and people can have as many as they like.
The fun will start at 3pm in the pub car park and the overall winner will nominate a charity to benefit from the event and walk away with the Wharf Tavern Shield.
