A COMPETITION to find the best dry stone waller in Yorkshire has been launched by the county's branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

The bi-annual contest, launched in 2000, sees judges cast their eyes over a specific length of wall built on a farm during the past two years as part of normal walling work.

"The event shows that we care for the countryside and it should help to preserve a prominent feature of the county's landscape," said Dorothy Fairburn, regional director of the CLA.

Marks are awarded for style, landscape impact, tidiness of the site and difficulty of the terrain. The winner is awarded a glass perpetual challenge trophy illustrating dry stone walling, specially commissioned by the CLA.

The closing date for entries is the end of June. Application forms and more details are available from the CLA's regional office at Easingwold, on (01347) 823803.