TEAMS of ploughmen and their heavy horses pitted their skills against each other at the weekend.

The ploughing match at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, attracted ten teams of horses from around the country, with fierce competition in two categories.

The museum's staff members celebrated by taking the top three prizes in the high cut class - Jim Elliott, Peter Brassett and Lea Harrison taking first second and third places respectively.

The general purpose category was won by Steven Glavin, of Selby, North Yorkshire, with David Broll of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, and Tom McMillan of the Isle of Bute, Scotland, taking second and third places respectively.

The decorated heavy horse category was won by David Hesketh, of Malton, North Yorkshire. He also won the agricultural turnout class.

Each competitor received a personalised copy of a ploughing competition certificate dating back to the early 1900s, along with a commemorative Beamish horse brass.

Completing the pastoral scene was a display of country crafts and agricultural exhibits.

Museum assistant keeper of interpretations, Lindsay Curry, said: "The day went really well.

"We had lots of visitors - it was probably the best competition so far."