Some of the oldest words in Cumbria were showcased at an annual competition which aims to keep the county's traditional dialect afloat.

Stories, poems and songs were recited at Silloth's Golf Hotel on Saturday for the Rotary club's annual Cumbrian Dialect Competition.

This year 10 competitors entered their original piece, reciting them to an audience of about 90 eager listeners.

The competition started back in 1976 and, while there was a five year break due to a dip in numbers, the Rotary club managed to revive it.

Silloth Rotary Club member Tim Barker, who has been organising the competition for about 20 years, has written books and poems including Whatt Fettle Mun and Shakespeare for Shepherds.

He explained how words which are used every day such as fell, thwaite and beck originated from the Viking age.

"Some of the words are almost unchanged Scandinavian words," he said. "It's unique. It's like no other dialect in the country. It's a thing to take pride in.

"It's also a means of keeping people up with the way our communities work. It reflects the agricultural side of the county and the west Cumbrian dialect also reflects the industrial heritage.

"But I enjoy writing in it because it make me laugh."