A TRADITION that goes back half a century saw two pubs go head-to-head in a Boxing Day tug of war.

Crowds gathered by the banks of the River Nid as staff from The Half Moon and The Mother Shipton fought it out in a friendly post-Christmas competition.

The Knaresborough event can be traced back to 1966 as both men and women's teams pull at each end of a rope that stretches across the length of the river.

From noon on Boxing Day families and nearby residents came to watch the competition.

Current landlord of The Half moon Pub, Max Harrison, said: "I think it came about as one of those pub challenges and someone dreamed it up as a good idea.

"We always have a bar outside on both pubs and there's plenty of beer and mulled wine flowing.

"It's a great family atmosphere, it's good fun. No one likes to lose but we like to play fair.

"We have a good pub team rather than experts in tug of war. So we try and keep it what it should be, which is pub regulars and a community feel.

"So all the pullers are from the local area and all their families come and support them."