Dozens of daredevils braved ridicule and a slippery undoing in this year's ever-popular Blakeney greasy pole challenge.

Hundreds gathered at Blakeney Quay to watch the event, the highlight of the village's annual aquatic sports.

Competitors run or walk along a heavily-greased 30ft-long telegraph pole, which is suspended over the seawater, and try to reach its tip while still standing, before plunging into the water at the pole's far end.

Organiser Alban Donohoe, of the Blakeney Regatta Committee, said hundreds of people had gathered at the quayside or sat picnicking in boats on the water to enjoy Friday evening's spectacle.

Anyone aged 12 or older was eligible to take part and some 50 men, women and children had tackled the pole, with about one in five successfully reaching the end on their feet.

'It's great fun to see your friends fall in and make a fool of themselves, and equally great fun when they make it to the end in style - a huge, huge cheer of support goes up from the crowds,' said Mr Donohoe.

This year's champion, after a run-off, was Blakeney-born Sam Curtis, a maths and sports teacher at Gresham's School, Holt.

He regularly vies for the winner's trophy with his brother Tom, a London-based property developer who returns to his home village every summer to take part in the contest.

Although part of Blakeney Regatta festivities, the greasy pole event was always held in the evening and, for safety reasons, when the tide was a minimum of 8.4m to 8.6m high, according to Mr Donohoe. This meant that its timing was independent of other activities.

The challenge was preceded by 'gilly' (crab) catching and a sandcastle competition for children.

And on Sunday the action switched to the village playing field for rural sports including sack, egg-and-spoon, three-legged races, high and long jump.

All events were free with proceeds from a hog roast and sale of programmes ploughed into sweets, small cash prizes and trophies for the victors.