A TEESDALE school went conker crazy for a competition which was judged by a Russian visitor.

Ingleton C of E Primary School held their conker creation competition, with Leo Grafkin, a Russian trainee teacher, deciding the winners.

Mr Grafkin, from the city of Kostroma, has spent the past week-and-a-half at the school, observing teachers and helping with lessons.

In the 4-7 year-old category, Joseph Thompson came third, Heather Gibson came second and Mark Young, who made a conker tree picture, and Peter Hastie, who made a conker man, came joint first.

In the 7-9 year-old category, Lauren Lee came third; joint second was Laura Wilson and Jasmine Cowley, and the winner was Marcus Weaver, who made a conker wrestling ring.

Connor Redden came third in the 9-11 year olds category; Rebecca Toms and Sally Robinson came joint second and Jenny Stephenson, who made a conker family watching TV, came first.

Mr Grafkin said: "I think the models the students have made have been really good.

"You can see the effort the children have put into them."