THE talk was all about hay as farmers from all over the North descended on a pub car park yesterday to compete in the battle of the bales.

There was much sniffing and handling by the judges of the 119 entries in the ninth annual hay show, staged by farmers in Weardale, County Durham, before a champion eventually emerged.

The winner, who picked up a handsome cup and a £100 prize, was Bill Cowperthwaite, who farms near Skipton, North Yorkshire, with his friend and fellow farmer, Roy Nelson, coming a close second.

But there was some doubt about which of them had actually entered the winning bale.

"We just chucked three bales of hay into a Land-Rover and drove up here. I think it was my hay, so I suppose I'm the winner," said Bill.

The two farmers have been entering the hay show, which is staged at the Cross Keys pub at Eastgate, for the last four years.

"We think it's a super idea," said Roy.

"They are grand folk around here, and there is lots of good crack and a lot of fun on the day."

Judges John Gray, from Stanhope, and Jimmy Burns, from Kelso, praised the quality of the hay on display.

Jimmy, an agriculture salesman, said: "The standard is much better this year, particularly the meadow hay. A lot of that is due to the weather."

The only disappointment was that a new class for the best dressed hay attracted only one entry - a giant hay Kit-Kat from Valerie Collingwood, of Rookhope.

She collected a £10 prize for her trouble.

Paul Collinson, spokesman for the Cross Keys' Sunday Club, which organised the event, said: "We had a smashing entry, despite the show having to be postponed last weekend because of heavy snow.

"We had entries from as far away as Berwick and Harrogate. It only shows what community spirit can achieve."