THIS year's Turnip Prize winner has been announced with the inspired 'Pole Dark' (a black pole) winning first prize in the spoof art competition.

At a ceremony held at The New Inn, Wedmore was awarded to 'artist' Plumskey, seeing off strong competition from A Pair of Drawers (two wooden drawers) and The European Single Meerkat (a meerkat figure holding a European Union flag) among others.

The award was made in front of a packed art loving audience, TV cameramen and photographers who cheered when the 69-year-old winner emerged to accept the coveted prize, a turnip mounted on a six-inch nail.

The main criteria the judges use rate the entries includes bad wordplay and a distinct lack of effort.

Organiser Trevor Prideaux said: “I am delighted with the lack of effort taken to create this work.

Mr Plumskey, an IT contractor from Wedmore, said: “My inspiration came from big jugs of fine red wine and the odd pasty.”

Mr Prideaux added: “This year’s event attracted a total of 99 entries, it’s fantastic that Plumskey has won, he clearly has what it takes to be recognised in modern art circles and will be remembered in art history for no time at all!”

“It’s a hole in the commode to the ageist Turner Prize and I believe that over the last sixteen years the artists entering ‘The Turnip Prize’ have created by far better works than Alex Farquharson and The Tate Britain Gallery could ever wish to exhibit.”

For more information please visit our Facebook group ‘The Turnip Prize’ or www.newinnwedmore.co.uk.