Rivalry between two Oxfordshire villages over the size of their pumpkins and marrows comes to a head this month.

The annual Pumpkin Night will be held at The Bear and Ragged Staff, in Cumnor, near Oxford, on Monday, October 28.

In addition to the keenly contested competition, a new 'Lord Mayor' of Cumnor -- whose main duty is to be 'keeper of the village ducks and pond' -- will be elected. Once appointed, the lucky recipient of the title will be thrown into the village pond in a tradition going back nearly half a century.

The evening's festivities, all in aid of the village primary school and the children's ward in the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, begin with a firework display for children, followed by a more impressive show later beside the village pond.

A charity auction will be held at the pub during the evening, with various sports memoribilia on offer, including the shirt worn by Steven Gerrard in the World Cup qualifying match against Sweden and a signed England rugby shirt.