A MUSIC festival at the weekend was the scene of a fiercely-contested battle - with spoons the weapon of choice.

The three-day Sedgefield Music Weekend attracted hundreds of visitors, but one of the highlights was the World Spoons Championship, which took place on Saturday.

Contestants had to accompany a band using only two spoons, their bodies and their imaginations.

Spoon maestro Bert Draycott, from Fishburn, successfully defended the title he picked up at last year's event, while Cairan Jasper, from Sedgefield, picked up the children's prize.

"The band would play an Irish song, and people had to play along to it," said festival organiser Joan Edmundson.

"Bert, who has won it for a couple of years now, has his own set of moves, which he has names for, so it's great fun to watch."

It is the second year the festival has taken place in Sedgefield, having previously been held in Trimdon.

Concerts, sing-alongs and competitions took place in the parish hall, the Hope Inn, the parish church and Ceddesfeld Hall over three days, starting on Friday.

"It's been a tremendous weekend," said Mrs Edmundson.