Fingers were flicking and miniature footballers were showing off their football skills in Lowestoft today at the first Subbuteo open tournament in the town.

Fingers were flicking and miniature footballers were showing off their football skills in Lowestoft today at the first Subbuteo open tournament in the town.

The Lowestoft-based East Anglia Subbuteo and Table Football Club (Easts) staged the Easts Open with 15 competitors vying for the title of the best player.

The tournament had four group stages and players competed for either the Open Cup or Open Shield depending on where they finished.

Player travelled up from London, Kent and Lincoln to take part, including England Subbuteo international Elliott Bellefontaine, 15 and from Chingford.

He had travelled up with his father Martin, 45, and who said Subbuteo was 'A combination of chess and bowls'.

Also competing was Kenny Macfarlane, 49, from Lowestoft who won the Open Shield by beating Lee Henderson, also from Lowestoft, 3-0.

Mr Mcfarlane, an Asda delivery driver said: 'It is a great game - just like the real thing.'

The winner of the Open Cup was Andy Bower of Lincoln who won on a golden goal in extra time in a tense overall final.

Easts was formed last October and has 16 members.

The club had played Subbuteo in the bedroom of founder Garry Wright's home in Minos Road before relocating to the INK House Studios at Montana Place, Rotterdam Road where the tournament was held.

Mr Wright said: 'This was our first open and it was a success. It was a tense final, we went down to a golden goal.

'Hopefully we will be holding the open again next year.'

East Point Sports sponsored the Easts Open.

For information on Easts visit its website at www.east-anglia-subbuteo-table-soccer.com/