MUSCLES will be flexed in a fundraising event this month, keeping a Hatherleigh tradition going and providing a boost to charity.

The annual Hatherleigh Tar Barrel Sponsored Pull will be held on Saturday, August 29.

The event is the Tar Barrel committee's most successful fundraiser and this it the third year it will be held.

The committee is a sub-committee of Hatherleigh Carnival, which features the blazing barrels each year.

The barrels, unlit, will be pulled from Hatherleigh Square, leaving at 11am, to Highampton via Totleigh and Sheepwash — a distance of approximately 12 miles.

As they are not allowed to use main roads, the route will follow the Strawbridge way from Hatherleigh, taking the Totleigh road.

Puller Jake Chisholm said it was a strenuous slog pulling the barrels, but it was all for a worthy cause.

Approximately 30 pullers are currently looking for sponsorship and would like to exceed last year's excellent total of nearly £1,000. Their ages range from late teens to mid-forties.

Money raised goes towards buying supplies to keep the barrels rolling, with all surplus being donated to charity.

Dawn Stevens, the committee's treasurer, said they had had an extra expense this year in buying new barrels.

'We had problems getting barrels this year. The chairman and I had to ring up-country and finally managed to purchase some a fortnight ago,' she said.

They had not had to purchase barrels for a few years, said Dawn.

Hessian bags costing £100 also have to be purchased each year.

Dawn said: 'Every penny raised helps to keep the carnival and barrels going and the sub-committee donates to charity as well.

'Last year we supported Devon Air Ambulance and Hatherleigh Fire Brigade's First Response team.'

The charities for this year have to be decided, but the main carnival will be supporting Hatherleigh Silver Band, Devon Air Ambulance and Diabetes UK.

Dawn said traditionally, only men had pulled the barrels, although one lady had gone in front with the warning bell during the carnival.

The ladies and older men work on the support team, helping with health and safety matters and carrying collecting tins.

A team of 20 men pull the barrels each carnival — an event stretching back 100 years and unique in Devon.

Ottery St Mary also has tar barrels, but there, they are carried as opposed to being pulled on a sledge, as in Hatherleigh.

The fiery barrels are supposed to drive out any evil spirits from the town.

Hatherleigh Carnival is also hosting an Island Park Party and Royalty Evening on Saturday, September 12.

The carnival itself is on Saturday, November 14.