World rally 'drivers' have been battling it out on Dartmouth's international racing circuit – inside a community hall.

The race layout may have been just a wee bit smaller than Silverstone but the competition for the town's World Indoor Rally Championships competition was just as fierce as any Formula One face off.

More than 70 competitors of all ages took part in the annual Scalextric-style mini time trial contest. And at the end of the six-hour event, they had raised £1,500 for charity.

Between them the competitors took part in 90 time trials to find the winner who could 'drive' his car the fastest around four separate circuits set up in the Townstal Community Hall.

Dartmouth garage owner John Darby has organised the event for the last six years.

He said afterwards: 'It went great and it was really well attended.'

This year's winner was Dale Lot from Paignton who came in at 73.66 seconds.

Dale has now won the competition for the last five years running.

'He obviously practises a lot,' said John.

Over the last five years the popular event has raised more than £5,000 for the Greyhound Sanctuary in Exeter which saves ex-racing greyhounds from being put down or abandoned.

Last weekend's event raised some £750 and that was matched by the competition's Barclays Bank sponsors, said John.

Other sponsors are Best Ltd, from Brixham; Lemar Engineering, from Totnes; Woodlands Leisure Park at Blackawton and WHK Services at Dartmouth.

This was the first time the event had been held in the community hall after previous races went ahead at Dartmouth Guildhall and the Flavel.

'The hall was great,' said John. 'There was a lot of rivalry between couples and groups of friends. They were not just aiming to get onto the board they were also out to beat one another.