The traditional Somerset game of skittles has helped raise thousands of pounds for the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance.

In November, the Rotary Club of Shepton Mallet joined forces with 230 skittlers for a skittling marathon.

Twenty-three teams battled it out in 23 pubs across the Mendips to see which team could knock down the most skittles in 90 minutes.

The prize, dinner at The Natterjack, was awarded to the team scoring the highest number of skittles and to the team raising the most sponsorship.

The highest score was at The Old Down Inn, Emborough where a team led by Camerton farmer Graham Wells knocked over 2,500 skittles in the time limit.

The team with the highest sponsorship was led by Rupert Gibson of East Compton, which skittled at The Manor Inn, Ditcheat, and raised £800 towards the total.

On Monday evening, Rotary Club president Peter Clark met up with the two teams when he presented a cheque for more than £8,000 to the air ambulance representatives.

The total had been boosted with a £1,000 donation by the racehorse Ditcheat trainer Paul Nicholls.

Mr Clark said: "To be able to collect this amount of money shows how important this cause is."