LAWNMOWER racing brought all the thrills and spills of motorsport to Thornton Hall Farm Country Park.

In its first public event of the year, the North West Lawn Mower Racing Association (NWLMRA) thrilled the crowds at the Thornton-in-Craven visitor centre with two days of races, with mowers reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

Visitors were treated to racing in six different classes for both men and women including both mowers designed to push, where competitors either walked or ran behind, to modified, sit on machines capable of reaching speeds of between 40 and 50mph.

The association, which stages race events around the country with racers competing in the annual championship, invites people to come along, talk to their members and even join in.

The Thornton event also included several spectacular 'rollovers' where racers lost control of their machines on the 'tight and twisty' track.

The track, combined with a light breeze over the weekend, also meant some less well known racers did well in the practice laps.

Visitor, Jean Thompson, at the event with her husband, Mike, and children, Sam and Jenny, said it was huge fun.

"We'd never seen anything like it before, it was so exciting, we shall definitely be coming again if it comes back to Thornton."

The championship now moves on to Kirkhambury, Preston over the late May bank holiday weekend, May 28 and May 29.

Meanwhile, Thornton Hall Farm Country Park is gearing up for a Father's Day special on Sunday, June 19 featuring champion motorbike trials rider Dougie Lampkin.

Dougie, who will be appearing with his son, is a 12-times world trials champion and holder of 99 GP titles, and remains a legend of trials biking.

He will be doing performances throughout the day from 11am, and chatting to people when he can. There are also plans for him to show off his skills by riding up the park's giant slide, jumping across a straw maze on just one back wheel and whirling in and out of obstacles around the farm.

The visitor centre stages several events every year, in addition to being a place where school parties and families can come along to enjoy a working farm, ride ponies and pet animals.

Tickets to see Dougie Lampkin for adults and children over two years old, are £8, and £4 for under twos. Babies go free, available from website thorntonhallcountrypark.co.uk