Bruising encounter at historic Alnwick ball game

Protagonists are licking their wounds after taking part in the ancient Shrove Tuesday "football" match in the shadow of Alnwick Castle.

The historic game was first recorded back in 1762 and is now traditionally played out on the fields by the River Aln every year.

There are virtually no rules, but players representing the parishes of St Michael and St Paul, attempt by whatever means to get the ball through a "hale" (a goal) at each end of the fields.

It is now an established event in the Alnwick social calendar, with competitors describing it as "an afternoon of enjoyable madness".