Competitors in the World Conker Championships have said it has become "a farce" after nuts were imported from Europe.

Organisers worried the contest, which is held every year in Southwick, Northants, would have to be cancelled after the summer heatwave made British nuts smaller than usual.

However, conkers have been delivered from France and Italy, meaning the contest, which has been held since the 1960s, will go ahead on October 12.

But, the imported chestnuts have led competitors to complain over unfair advantages.

Critics believe that the conkers grown overseas will be sturdier and harder to break due to the warmer climate in which they were grown.

David Glew, 79, from Lincoln, told The Telegraph: "After the steel conker scandal last year, now our showpiece event will use chestnuts from hotter countries, which are sure to be harder than nuts grown in the UK climate.

"It means players using the imports clearly have a better chance of smashing the UK-grown conker of an opponent.

"It's a farce. The organisers must have gone nuts."

Critics believe that the conkers grown overseas will be sturdier and harder to break

Organiser Charles Whalley assured the competition's integrity would be kept in tact as the quality of all conkers would be assessed when drilled to insert the string.

He also applauded those who had offered to provide conkers so the competition could go ahead, saying: "We've just had conkers from everywhere. It's been quite extraordinary.

"It just sort of sums up the love for the championships. We've had them from all over Europe, Italy and France.

"We've just had so many emails from people offering conkers saying plenty here, come and get them or we can send them to you.

King Conker David Jakins was at the centre of a scandal last year after he was accused of using a metal conker

"With the support from Europe and what's left in the trees at the moment, we are delighted to say that all is good."

He even said offers had come in from the Windsor Estate who "sent a big box".

Mr Whalley added: "As you'd expect, they're very good quality conkers."

Last year'c competition was rocked by scandal after the men's winner was accused of using a metal conker.

David Jakins, who has competed in the contest since 1977, strongly denied all accusations and was cleared after an investigation declared he "achieved his title fairly".

Organisers have confirmed the competition now has metal detectors to ensure such an incident does not happen again.