Hampstead Heath hosts conker championships

The annual contest is open to children and adults

Children and adults have been battling it out in the annual conker championships on Hampstead Heath.

Contestants were divided into age groups, beginning with under fives, for the sixth annual event at Parliament Hill bandstand, north London.

Ahead of the contest they were led on a two-hour walk across the heath in celebration of what was traditionally known as Seed Gathering Sunday.

They collected acorns which will be planted to replace older oak trees.

Launched in 1998, Seed Gathering Sunday was designed to give more opportunities for people to get out and collect seeds and plant the trees of the future.

Organiser of the conker championships, Paul Maskell, said: "The Hampstead Heath conker championships get more popular with each year and are now established as a great chance for all the family to explore one of London's best-loved open spaces."