SOME slippery characters made for laughter, fun and merriment at Blackawton on Sunday.

More than 500 people poured into the village for the wackiest event in the south west calendar – the 31st International Festival of Worm­charming.

Festival chairman Steve Thomas said the weather meant numbers were slightly down on last year, but nonetheless 190 'charmers' battled it out in the competition of wit versus wisdom.

The 62 teams – made of three people – one 'charmerer', one 'pickerer' and one 'counterer' – were challenged to charm as many of the soil-enriching beasties as possible out of a one-metre-square patch of ground.

And this year's adult winning team – the Worm Wranglers, with the all-female line-up of Megan, Lia and Nadine – managed to lure and entice some 54 wriggling beauties out of the soil.

The under-11s prize went to the team Everything is Awesome, made up of Laura, Charlie and Elsie, who collected 38 worms.

Any method of tempting worms to the surface, except forking or digging was allowed, under the watchful eye of Worm Master Nat Lowson. But Steve said there were the usual cases of cheating and disqualification, which included one team who brought along extra worms in a pot, which they tried to empty on to the ground.

This year's theme was Wild West Worms, and many competitors arrived dressed as cowboys or Indians and there were even a few Mexican bandits in sombreros.

Winners of the fancy dress were the Scoville team of Eva, Esme and Imogen.

The fun started early as people began to gather around the Normandy Arms from around 11am.

A procession through the village was led in an open-top sports car by the wormcharming princess Maddy Joyce – a new 'royal' addition to the ceremony introduced this year.

The day's events included church bell ringing, stalls, morris dancing, maypole dancing, donkey rides, a dog show, a fancy dress competition and community choir singing.

Live music was performed throughout the afternoon at the George Inn, before the evening's auction with several lots up for grabs.

The big community event has raised over £14,000 for charity and good causes over the past seven years and it is hoped this year's festival will bring in around £2,000 for Devon Air Ambulance Trust and other local charities.