WRESTLING came to Takeley village on Saturday and the rip-roaring action didn t stop as huge men did battle in the ring. Silver Jubilee Hall, Brewers End, in Takeley welcomed 100 guests to watch the event which started at 7.30pm on Saturday night. But why

WRESTLING came to Takeley village on Saturday and the rip-roaring action didn't stop as huge men did battle in the ring.

Silver Jubilee Hall, Brewers End, in Takeley welcomed 100 guests to watch the event which started at 7.30pm on Saturday night.

But why would professional wrestling come to little Takeley? Promoter and organiser Sam Knee said: "Well it all started here originally, when I started training here, a few mates got together and before we knew it Herts and Essex Wrestling (HEW) was born."

The event on Saturday night was a version of what you might see on television beamed over from America with nicknames and signature moves to boot.

Wrestlers included current world champion Erik Isaksen from Norway who also brought a legion of fans with him and wrestlers with such nicknames as 'Zebra Kid', 'Killer Instinct' and 'Sweet Saraya'.

Mr Knee said: "We like to create story lines to go with the fights and this gets people coming back time and time again, we get a very mixed crowd of young and old, it seems that recently adults seem to be getting interested even more."

This is the first of ten events for the HEW and they will be coming back to Takeley on March 29, again at Silver Jubilee Hall.

If you would like to go to the next event and observe the talents of the wrestlers up close then March 29 is the time to do it says Mr Knee.

"We have international wrestlers at the next event, some are so good they get snapped up by the big American productions, the next event promises to be great with 'street fights' and title challenges galore," he said.

Call Sam Knee at the HEW box office 07790200490.