AN ex-vicar who became a woodturner is competing in the first Bodging Olympics this weekend.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the Friends of Chopwell Wood, near Rowlands Gill, woodturners will compete to become North's quickest bodger.

Among the competitors will be Chris Helliwell, 40, from Darlington, who spent 18 months as vicar of Barton before he quit eight years ago to take up the new profession.

He said: "As a kid, I chopped lots of wood so I kind of got a feel for wood, and I had a misspent youth making Airfix models, so if you combine the two you get furniture making."

Chris, who runs his own business from his home in Forcett, between Darlington and Barnard Castle, will use a hand-made pole lathe to demonstrate wood turning, or bodging, as well as testing his speed against other bodgers at turning a log into a table leg.

More than 5,000 people are expected to visit the venue to celebrate a revival in forest arts and skills and enjoy woodland-themed fun aimed at the whole family.