Fundraisers had a barrel of laughs on Boxing Day at Colne Engaine’s annual barrel hunt.

About 90 people turned out to support the event, which has raised funds for the Essex Air Ambulance for the last ten years.

Entrants and spectators gathered at the Five Bells pub for the hunt, which sees the competitors follow maps around a three mile Champions route or a 1.5 mile junior route to find a barrel.

They then have to bring it back to the pub as quickly as they can, with the quickest times being awarded prizes including hampers of goodies for the adults, sweets for the juniors and the winners of both routes have their names engraved on the Barrel Hunt shields.

This year’s hunt raised £450 and to date more than £5,000 for the Air Ambulance.

For more photos of the race see this week's Halstead Gazette