The combined villages of Hainford and Stratton Strawless clung on to their title by a whisker at this year's Broadland Village Games.

Eastern Daily Press: Broadland Village Games at Aylsham High School. Alex Le Mesurier, 15, from the Hainford & Stratton Strawless team. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYBroadland Village Games at Aylsham High School. Alex Le Mesurier, 15, from the Hainford & Stratton Strawless team. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

The team, which also won last year when the village duo entered the annual contest for the first time, just pipped Aylsham to take the crown in an event which also saw entries from the villages of Cawston, Booton, Reepham, Halvergate and Cantley.

Eastern Daily Press: Broadland Village Games at Aylsham High School. Leestefan Drake, 13, from the Hainford & Stratton Strawless team.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYBroadland Village Games at Aylsham High School. Leestefan Drake, 13, from the Hainford & Stratton Strawless team.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Some 100 people aged from six to an 82-year-old man gathered at Aylsham High School on Sunday for the competition, part of the Norfolk Village Games organised by Active Norfolk.

Activities included archery, athletics, badminton, tennis, darts, short mat bowls, football, rounders, a fitness triathlon and table tennis.

Aaron Roberts, rural sports development officer with Active Norfolk, said he was a little disappointed that more villages had not taken part - numbers were about half those of last year - but those who had enjoyed their day.

Before the games Active Norfolk members visit villages offering taster sports activities to encourage participation and Mr Roberts said this had proved particularly successful in Hainford which now staged six-week sessions in family rounders and archery, and offered regular table tennis sessions.

'That's our legacy. We're trying to increase activities in the villages and create social cohesion. In the old days everyone knew each other but with the way the world is now, that doesn't happen so much,' he added.

'This is a way of helping people get to know each other through activities.'

The winning team will now go forward to compete against five other district winners in the county final at UEA's Sportspark on July 13.

n Any Broadland village interested in getting involved can email Mr Roberts at aaron.roberts@activenorfolk.org or ring Broadland District Council on 01603 431133 and ask for the sports development team.