SEVERAL hundred people including two world champions, took part in a clay pigeon shooting competition at the weekend in aid of Help for Heroes.

Organisers of the annual Spennymoor and District Clay pigeon Club’s charity day said yesterday’s event, their fourth, was the biggest yet.

People took part in two competitions at West House Farm, in Fishburn, County Durham, with more than 100 competitors entering each.

The down the line contest was won by Nigel Chapman, who scored a full 300 marks, with Paul Chaplow second with 299 and Ian Malarkey third with 294.

Mr Malarkey was second in the sporting category, with 45 points out of 50, behind Lee Jackson who scored 47 and ahead of Mr Chaplow, who scored 44.

Organiser Phil Bartlett hopes the money raised at the charity day will bring the amount he has raised for Help for Heroes over the past year to more than £8,000.

He said: “This event was the culmination of a year’s worth of fundraising. We had a fantastic day for it, and while I don’t yet have final figures, I estimate this was the biggest one yet.”

Gun shop Ingleby Guns donated a gun as a prize.