LOCAL bragging rights will be up for grabs as two villages are set to go to battle in a tug-of-war contest.

The event - reviving an old competition - is seen as stoking a bit of friendly rivalry between the two closely-linked communities.

The Dorset villages of Piddlehinton and Piddletrenthide are about a mile apart on the B3143 and both sit next to the peculiarly-named River Piddle from where their names derive.

In the 1980s, Piddlehinton had a tug-of-war team who took on whoever wanted to challenge them - however the competitions became less frequent in the 1990s.

Now, local resident Tony Brooker is looking to bring back the tug-of-war with a competition between the two villages, which he has named the 'Battle of the Piddles'.

Mr Brooker, 59, lives in White Lackington between the two villages and was eager to host an event bringing neighbours of both Piddlehinton and Piddletrenthide together.

He said: "I moved to the village in 2021. I went to a village fete in Piddletrenthide and it was lovely.

"I mentioned to the organiser that there needs to be an event between the two villages, a bit of competition and friendly-rivalry.

"I came up with the idea of a Battle of the Piddles and I was told about the tug of war that used to take place.

"It was quite big in the 1980s and it was very competitive between Piddlehinton and sometimes a team from Piddletrenthide.

"No one seems to know why it stopped, I think people may have lost interest back then.

"But we have decided to bring it back and there is now a lot of excitement from local people who seemed eager to bring it back anyway."

Mr Brooker has planned two competitions alongside organisers of the village fetes in the two villages.

The Piddletrenthide village fete on Saturday, June 8 will host the first event with three pulls taking place.

Then on Saturday, July 20, the deciding three pulls will be hosted at the Piddlehinton village fete.

Two female captains have already been selected to lead their teams, Michelle Berry for the Trenthide Tuggers and Toni Wallace, captain of the Hinton Heavers.

The captains will shout instructions to eight people on each team.

The competition will be adults only, with first aid on hand at both village fetes

Mr Brooker said if there is a tie at the end of both fetes, the two teams will compete in a tug across the River Piddle.

The winning village will take home the Thimble Cup, which has been provided by the local pub the Thimble Inn and will host the 2025 Battle of the Piddles in their home village.