RESIDENTS from Horrabridge were delighted at this year's village fair when their local policemen took part in the popular barrel race.

Neighbourhood team officers PC Dave Pickles and PCSO Rob Walsh took to the river in uniform, carrying the beer kegs down and around a demanding course.

The race sees teams of two start at the top of the weir.

They have to go down the weir, swim across the plunge pool, climb into the main river and collect one barrel, bringing it back up the weir.

Once the barrel is up the weir and in the main river they have to drag it 80 metres along and up a bank, where they collect a second barrel.

Bringing both barrels back to the weir they again plunge down the weir and finish where the first barrel was collected from.

PCSO Rob Walsh said: 'It was a lot more tiring than I expected.

'I weighed my boots afterwards, and they weighed eight pounds.

'I think if we do the event next year it'll be in more appropriate clothing.'

Both officers are well-known in the village where they are involved in most of the community activities. They are seen as important role models to youngsters in the village and are about to start constructing a youth shelter on the green.

PC Dave Pickles said: 'The local young people will be helping to build the shelter. This will hopefully ensure that it's looked after properly.'

The other members of the team, PCSO Mark Canvin and Sgt Dave Anning, were on hand to photograph the event for posterity.

Later this year the two PCSOs will be pitting teams of young people from their biggest villages against one another, in a local contest they have conceived themselves.