A COMPETITION to guess the weight of a huge five-and-a-half foot long halibut has raised £260 for the Abbots Morton Bell Tower Appeal.

More than 250 people entered the week-long competition run by young BIshampton fishmonger, Harry Dyke, at his parents' fish shop.

A couple from Flyford Flavel, Mo and Stan Jennings, won the contest with a spot on guess of 77.5 lbs.

Mr and Mrs Jennings won a £35 hamper donated by Hillers Farm Shop in Dunnington, and a £40 tray of fish including two steaks from the halibut.

Mrs Jennings, aged 74, put the weight of the massive fish at 77lbs, then her husband Stan, aged 75, decided to have a go too.

A delighted Mr Jennings said: " I knew there was a lot of weight in this huge halibut and I thought Mo's guess was about right, but I decided to go a bit higher with my guess and put down an extra half a pound."

All the entry fee donations from the competition went to the £40,000 appeal to fund masonry repairs to the 14th century bell tower of St Peter's church in Abbots Morton, near Inkberrow.  The running total is now £26,058.

Competition organiser Harry Dyke said: "I'd like to thank all my customers for their tremendous support. The response to this worthy cause has been amazing and I'm already thinking of ways to raise more funds in the future."

Details of a fundraising classical music concert planned for July can be found at abbotsmortonbelltower.co.uk.