FATHER and daughter team Geoff and Davina Sandberg charmed their way to a world crown on Saturday.

The Willaston duo won the 26th annual Willaston Worm Charming World Championship by enticing 127of thecreaturesfromthe ground within the allotted 30 minutes.

They did it using the traditional tried and tested method of stabbing the ground with a pitch fork.

It was Geoff's first victory after taking part annually for 21 years andwas onlynarrowlysecuredby one worm over local youngsters Jason and Josh Thelwell.

Organiser Mike Forster, who managed nine worms himself, said: 'I would have done better if I wasn't running around organ-ising the event at the same time.

'Everyone had a great day and the event keeps getting bigger every year.'

As usual there was a weird and wonderful mixture of methods used to try and get the worms rising.

Youngsters Rosie and Lauren Abbott helped dad Jonathon serenade the worms with his double bass.

Fellow competitor Johnny Lomas caught the eye as he tried out an interesting new technique involving bouncing on his plot wearing an inflatable sumo suit!

The award for heaviest worm went to Jordan and Darren Long. assisted by Ellie Cooke. Their giant specimen weighed in at 4.3 grams but was short of the all time record of 6.6 grams.

At the start time of 2pm all 144 plots were occupied with a record 300 people taking part. Competitors from as far away as the Philippines, Palestine and Guinea came to represent their nations at what is now a global event on the field at Willaston Primary School.

Dedicated South African couple Simon and Lauren West even interrupted their holiday in Ireland especially to take part and managed to charm 63 worms.

Cheshire's Poet Laureate, Andrew Rudd was an entrant this year and after taking part presented the awards.