WHILE most games of dominoes or shove ha'penny played down the pub usually earn the winners little more than a pint, Pelton pub-goers are playing for higher stakes.

Punters at The Bird Inn, in Pelton have won their local heats in a national pub games tournament, organised by Hartlepool pub company Pubmaster, and are through to the regional play-offs.

In the next heat, which also involves a pub quiz, they will compete for either a VIP trip to the races or football match, a weekend in Barcelona or a trip to New York.

The players have already collected merchandise from brewers Holsten after beating other teams in the Durham area at darts, dominoes and shove ha'penny.

Pubmaster regional man-ager Phil Pallister said: "The Pub Challenge uses traditional pub games to promote this idea of community spirit and offer pub customers the chance to meet and socialise in a friendly atmosphere.