FORMER Wimbledon tennis umpire Malcolm Huntington donned his green jacket for the first time in eight years when two York vicars thrashed it out in a 'mini-Wimbledon'.

Heslington's Anglican vicar, The Rev Nancy Eckersley, took on Methodist minister, The Rev Graham Jones, in a charity tennis match on Saturday.

The match, held at Mr Huntington's home in School Lane, Heslington, raised almost £150 to put towards a new boiler for Heslington Church.

Mr Huntington, a former Evening Press sports journalist who umpired at Wimbledon for 36 years until 1995, including at six Wimbledon finals, wore his green umpire's jacket and straw hat to give the match an authentic feel.

The day was a double victory for Mr Jones, who not only won the match 7-5, but was the only person to correctly guess the weight of a giant tennis racquet.

The racquet, which weighed in at an impressive 2lb 12 ounces, was on loan from Ian Tooms of local sports retailers, IT sports.

The match was the brainchild of Mr Huntington's wife, Gina, a tennis coach, who played at Wimbledon herself in 1960.

It was one of several events in the village leading up to Heslington Today, a flower, arts and crafts festival, which will be held at Heslington Church on Staurday and Sunday. Mr Huntington said: "It was a very successful afternoon, helped by the lovely weather."

Updated: 10:56 Monday, June 30, 2003