The Subbuteo season kicked off in Worthing with a national tournament.

Table football players came from Scotland, Wales and across England to compete in Worthing Five Star Table Football Club's event, held at the Sidney Walter Centre in Sussex Road on Sunday (see picture).

Teacher and devoted Subbuteo player Shaun Allison, 32, was delighted with the turn-out and said the 31 competitors had made it the best-attended table football tournament of the past ten years.

A game of Subbuteo, named after the original brand of table football products, consists of 22 miniature footballer figures which are strategically placed around a cloth pitch.

Subbuteo rules are similar to those of a normal football match aside from players using the figures to knock a small ball into goals.

Father-of-three Mr Allison, of Nutley Drive, Worthing, said: "Unfortunately, no one from Worthing won it.

"The winner was a chap called Shorab Jadunandan, who is ranked fifth in the country and plays for the England Subbuteo squad.

"The tournament featured four of the top players in the country.

"We also had four chaps from Worthing who we did not know before - they might join the club."

The tournament involved a series of qualification rounds, with Mr Allison making it into the last 16 before being knocked out on penalties.

He said: "This year was a national tournament, next year we hope to have an international one.

"It should last two days, teams on the first and individuals on the second."

Worthing Five Star club chairman Brian Barnes made it into the tournament's last eight before losing to Mr Jadunandan.

For more information about Subbuteo in Worthing, call Shaun on 07787 786306.