BISHOP AUCKLAND vegetable growers showed they know their onions in Frosterley at the weekend in an annual produce contest.

Frosterley Inn Onion Club hosted its third vegetable contest on Saturday afternoon, which attracted more than 50 vegetable growers from across the region.

Prize money totalling £2,000 was given out to winners, which had been collected through fundraising activities at the club.

Paul Jewitt, chairman of the club, said: "We all had a brilliant day, and many worthy winners went home with some great cash prizes.

"We are renaming ourselves The Weardale Onion Club next year, in a bid to expand our membership numbers."

All contestants enjoyed a night of entertainment atthe inn, after the competition, and all winning produce was auctioned yesterday afternoon.

Winners at the contest were: Billy Lowes, from Bishop Auckland, won heaviest onion, Tony Colgan, from Bishop Auckland, won two pot leeks, Ronnie Gill, from Seaham, won intermediate leek and one celery plant, Gordon Dowson, from Bishop Auckland, won heaviest marrow, Harry Sanderson, from Wolsingham, won giant tomato, Paul Jewitt, from Frosterley, won giant cabbage, Les Newby, from Sunderland won heaviest beetroot, Paul Jewitt from Frosterley, won heaviest turnip, Robert Greasely, from Wolsingham, won heaviest carrot, longest runner bean, longest chilli, heaviest parsnip and dressed onion, Bobby Hall, from Stanhope, won heaviest Weardale onion, Jim Howard, from Bishop Auckland, won three chrysanthemums, and Anthony Vasey, from Frosterley, and Mark Savoury, from Wolsingham won vase of flowers.

Anyone interested in joining the club can call Mr Jewitt on 01388-528606.