VIDEO AND GALLERY: British Stone Skimming Championships returned to Walcot Lake

But in Shropshire this weekend it was serious business, as the self-styled British Stone Skimming Championships returned to Walcot Lake, at Lydbury North, near Bishop's Castle.

It was a triumphant return for the quirky event after volunteer organisers had to cancel last year due to lack of time and resources.

The competition, which took place from noon on Sunday, was staged in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. It takes the hard work of about 50 volunteers to prepare and oversee the day. Organiser Heather Ashton said: "Because we were away last year, we've made a real effort with this year."

But, she added, it had been a huge effort to clear weed from the lake to create an area big enough for throwing, especially as the event took place later in the summer this year than in previous years, so the vegetation had grown even more.

More than 250 skimmers turned up to cast their stones, many travelling from across the UK to take part and some taking their own set of pebbles this year after a relaxing of the rules.

Gary Bailey, from Shrewsbury, won the men's competition with a throw of 84 metres.

Heather said: "Gary did not beat the record as that currently stands at 92 metres.

There was one record broken this year by me in the over-65 ladies' competition. I threw 33 metres which broke the record of 21 metres. It was a very successful day."

There were categories for under-12s, under-16s, under-65s and over-65s with all prizes simple hand-painted stones.