SPORT with a real cutting edge will see the chips flying at the weekend.

The Chopwell Forest Festival - the biggest event of its kind in the country - will be held at Chopwell, near Gateshead, on Saturday and Sunday.

The event, organised by the Forestry Commission and the Friends of Chopwell Wood, with support from North-East Community Forests, is in its 11th year.

Making a return visit will be South West Axe team, who will give a display of precision chainsawing.

Team leader Bob Woodward will compete for the UK in this year's World Championships in Italy. But first he'll be limbering-up at Chopwell on freshly cut logs and indulging in a display of axe racing.

Festivalgoers can mark the launch of Chopwell's health project by trying tai chi and by making a stress ball.

There will also be horse logging, oak bark peeling, coracle making, stick dressing, yurt building, music and forest theatre.

This year also sees the debut of cider making and people can have a go at bodging and basket making.

Elsewhere artist Dave Gross will be working on his latest creation, a 6ft long-eared bat, while intrepid youngsters scoot overhead on a zip line.