TOP guns from all over the North of England took part in a special annual shoot in County Durham to raise cash for children's charities.

This time the 33 teams raised a record amount of money for the Children's Heart Foundation and Children's Cancer Research.

The guns taking part all have links with shooting estates in Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire and have been competing for the last ten years with children's charities always benefiting.

The first shoot raised £1,000. Last year it was £6,000 and this year the event, which is held on the fells at Killhope in Weardale, raised £4,500. This amount was matched by the owner of the estate, M J Stone.

Competitors were faced with typical Weardale weather, fog, rain, sunshine and midges, and had to try to shoot a 50-bird sporting layout which had been set up by the headkeeper.

It proved to be a testing layout to some of the teams taking part, with high pheasants in fog and crossing partridge extremely high and fast. One gun, an experienced grouse shot, was heard to say that he had never seen grouse like these before. However, all the teams seemed to enjoy the day.

The winners on the day were the Bay Horse Beaters who all help on shoot days. High gun went to Andrew Morrow from Birkdale.

A number of prizes were donated and assistance was given by sponsors, but organisers stressed that the main winners, as always, were the children.

A spokesman added "This is a day when shooters' skills are tested to the limit.

"Despite the difficult terrain there were plenty of birds downed, but despite numerous attempts by the best chefs in the world, they don't taste any better."