Cricketers Neil Guthrie and James Rapson have put down their bats and will be swinging conkers instead at the world championships this weekend.

The Devizes duo have enlisted the help of their friends Philip O’Shea, who owns the Peppermill restaurant, and Tom Collins, a rugby player, to make up The Mighty BCCC (Bishop Cannings Cricket Club).

They take part in their first World Conker Championship in Southwick, Northamptonshire, on Sunday.

Mr Guthrie, 54, of Devizes Road in Potterne, said: “I play cricket with James for Bishop Cannings Cricket Club and we were looking for something to do at the end of the season and James came up with this.

“The last time we played was when we were in school so we’re not expecting to win anything, although there’s only 192 competitors so James worked out we only need to win seven rounds.

“We’ve got a bit of a reputation so some people weren’t shocked but others think we’re bonkers. The first thing one of my sons said to me was ‘you’re a loser’.”

The tradition dates back to 1965 when villagers from Ashton, Northamptonshire, were unable to organise a fishing trip because of bad weather so started the World Conker Championships.

Since then it has grown in popularity, with people from around the world taking part.

Mr Guthrie said: “We’ll be going down on Saturday in a campervan for some serious training.

“We’ve been looking for some conkers and then we’ll take them over to the Peppermill on Friday night and practice, probably with a pint in the other hand – that’s the extent of our training.”