VILLAGERS will be exercising their powers of charm this weekend – when hey try and entice worms from the ground.

Markington, near Ripon, is holding its Worm Charming Championship on Sunday, to raise cash for roof repairs to the local church.

The event will be held at 2.15pm on the boundary of the village cricket field, where each competitor or team of up to four will operate a worm-charming plot of two square metres in a competition lasting 30 minutes.

Worms may not be dug from the ground; only vibrations or noise can be used; no water or chemicals will be allowed, but any form of music may be employed to charm worms out of the earth.

The competitor who charms the heaviest weight of worms will be declared the winner and will receive the Markington Worm Charming Trophy and a bottle of champagne. An additional prize will be given for the most novel charming technique.

Entries cost £5 per plot with all proceeds going to St Michael's Church, Markington. To enter, or for further information, email suehouseman@hotmail.com; text 07711 563959 or hand in your entry in the Worm Box at Markington Post Office, near Harrogate.