One village has found a way to make its summer fete more ap-pea-ling than the rest.

Peasenhall stayed true to its name yesterday by hosting the third annual pea festival, a day devoted to celebrating the humble pea.

The event included a pea pageant parade, while visitors also tried their hand at the pea podding championships, fresh pea throwing finals and pea shooting competitions at the village hall.

But perhaps the most entertaining was the pea eating competition, where participants had to eat as many peas as possible using only a pair of chopsticks.

Organising committee member Russel Duncan said: “It has been amazing. The day was just far beyond our expectations. We had fabulous crowds, perfect weather and the parade was a huge success.

“We had more contestants than ever in the parade, and the streets were crowded with people all the way up.

“It was a perfect combination of great people, great weather and great entertainment.”

Residents from around the village took part, with the local butcher making a range of pea and pork sausages especially for the event, and others baking sweet pea cupcakes and a selection of other pea-related treats.

The theme was chosen because Peasenhall was known by the Anglo-Saxons as Pesehala, or “nook of land where peas grow”.

The village only rediscovered its heritage recently, after a gap of about 400 years.

Organiser Sally Tompkins said: “I thought of the idea about four years ago. I came back from a rather feeble village fete and just thought we are in Peasenhall so we need a pea festival.

“It is quite fun once you get into the pea theme, and everything just fits in. There is good involvement from the whole village and everything is pea-related.”

Proceeds go towards the upkeep of the village hall.