CUTLERY king George Hood has won the biggest title in spoon playing after the closest contest in memory.

The 79-year-old former railwayman won the World Spoon Championship, held in a County Durham pub on Saturday, for the third successive year

Mr Hood, from Pelaw, Gateshead, narrowly beat Bert Draycott, who held the title for three decades until Mr Hood's arrival on the competition scene, into second place.

After the five title-contenders completed a set piece, Tell Me Ma, and a freestyle routine, the judges caused a stir by awarding the two former champions identical points -78 out of 90 -and called for a spoon-off.

Each took to the floor again, but this time Mr Hood upped the tempo with a few extra twirls and the challenging slit-spoon cheek technique, which only he and son Brian attempted, to claim victory.

Mr Hood said: "It is fantastic, I would have enjoyed it whatever happened.

"Considering I did not know about the competition until three years ago, it is a pretty good record.

"I am from a musical family and have been playing the spoons since I was about ten. I practice just about every day because it is great fun and about having a good laugh.

"I would not say it was a lucky set of spoons as I have about 200 at home, but I would only ever play with nickel silver spoons. The winning ones were bought for 50p from South Shields market."

Gracious in defeat, 74-year-old Mr Draycott turned his attention to a new generation of spoon players -known as spoonlets or teaspoons -who competed in the first junior world championships.

In the search for fresh talent, Mr Draycott has held workshops in local primary schools, and his young protgs did him proud when they took to the stage for the first time.

Nine-year-old Ciaran Jasper, a pupil of St William's RC Primary School, in Trimdon village, displayed rhythm and flair to clinch the title.

The competitions are the showcase event of the three-day Trimdon Festival, in which leading North-East folk musicians perform in venues throughout the village.