VISITORS to Coronation Park in Radcliffe have tried their hand at the traditional sport of croquet.

Bury Croquet Club held their annual open day in aid of Bury Hospice, as well as hosting the Millennium Advance Tournament -- now called the Neil Williams Memorial Trophy in memory of a keen player -- on the other side of the borough at Heaton Park.

Press officer for the club, Mrs Colleen Forkin, said: "It was a very hard work but a good weekend.

"On Saturday the weather stayed dry all day for the open day and although it was wet on Sunday it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the croquet players in the tournament."

Among the many visitors to the open day at the Radcliffe ground were the Bury Mayor, Coun Wilf Davison, and his wife, Maureen, the mayoress, as well as Mervyn Reeves, the fund-raising manager for Bury Hospice.

Mrs Forkin said: "The mayor and mayoress expressed an interest in wanting to have another game.

"A special game of crazy croquet was set up for the children which involved pipes and wires. They seemed to enjoy it a lot.

"Along with the raffle, stalls and tombola the open day raised £250 for Bury Hospice."

The winner of the two-day tournament, which has been renamed in memory of Neil Williams who was a member of a club in the Lake District, was Ian Limes of Bowden Croquet Club. He is ranked 30th in the UK and was competing against players in the Great Britain team and county players.

"Over the May Bank Holiday weekend we will be holding the Lancashire International Golf Competition," said Mrs Forkin.

"But the big highlight of the our year will be the Great Britain and United States of America tournament which we will be hosting at Heaton Park."