DRINKERS are going on the piste French-style in a former pub car-park.

Petanque - the European version of bowls - is taking off with regulars at the Saddle Inn, Fulford, with Saturday afternoon tournaments pulling in the punters and the team hitting third spot in the local league.

Replacing the traditional pub pastimes of dominoes and pool, landlord Mike Wilks has converted the car-park at the rear of the pub to accommodate four petanque pistes or terrains.

"It has really taken off with the locals," said Mike, landlord at the pub for five years.

"It mostly appeals to the more mature person, but beginners are welcome to join in."

The basic rules of the game involve trying to toss your silver boules to land as close as possible to the smaller 'jack'.

The game is played on an uneven gravel pit with players attempting to get to the jack releasing the boule from the back of the hand.

In singles, players have three boules each, scoring a point for each one that is closer to the jack than their opponent's. The winner is the first to reach 13 points.

Informal knockout tournaments are played on Saturdays at 2.30pm.

PICTURE - FRENCH-STYLE: Mike Wilks, landlord of the Saddle pub, Fulford, with his petanqueboules Picture: Frank Dwyer