EGGED on by eager crowds, pub-goers indulged in an ancient North-East tradition when they took part in an egg jarping contest.

The Australian Hotel, at Howden-le-Wear, County Durham, held its annual jarping contest yesterday, when 80 contestants swapped blows and tried to crack their opponents' hard boiled eggs.

The aim of the contest is to crack the shell of an opponent's egg by hitting it with your own egg.

Landlady Val Flounders said: "We also had an egg show where people entered painted eggs, onion peel dyed eggs and novelty eggs. But a few were snaffled for jarping.

"I'd like to thank all the locals, especially Davey Quinn, it's his 28th contest.