TUG-of-War teams will descend on Malvern next week.

The 2007 National Outdoor Tug-of-War Championships takes place on Saturday, June 16, at the Three Counties Show.

The championships, organised by the English Tug of War Association, were held at the show last year and were a huge success.

There will be around 80 teams in total competing in the various weight categories for men's, ladies teams and youth teams.

Alan Knott, Tug-of-War Association spokesman, said: "This event is even more important this year because the winning teams will go on to represent England at the European Championships, which take place in Minehead in September."

"People don't think of tug-of-war as a serious sport, but more a fun game contested by overweight men after 10 pints in the pub.

"The teams competing here have been in serious training since early March, working on fitness, teamwork and technique. By having our championships at the Three Counties Show, it will enable people to see a top class sporting event and, hopefully, it will give people a different impression of the sport of tug-of-war".

Competitions start at 10am and will finish around 5pm.