The World Conker Championships have launched an investigation after the men's champion was found with a steel chestnut in his pocket.

On Sunday, 82-year-old David Jakins took the title of men's champion at the World Conker Championships - but questions were raised about his win.

This was the veteran player's first win, despite competing since 1977.

Destroying his opponents' conkers with sometimes a singular hit, questions were raised when a fake steel conker, painted brown, was found in Mr Jakins pocket.

Organisers of the competition in the UK have said that they are still looking at video evidence but believe the steel conker was kept in Mr Jakins' pocket throughout the competition.

King Conker

Known as 'King Conker', the 82-year-old denied using the fake conker during the competition, saying that he only had it with him for "humour value".

Mr Jakins also helped prepare other players' conkers, which are selected randomly from a sack, but has further denied that he marked his opponents' strings to highlight harder nuts.

The chairman of the organising committee said the steel conker was indistinguishable from a real one other than it's obvious heavier weight.

Investigation

John Burkett, a member of the organising committee, said that an investigation of a video showed no foul play.

"We are currently minded to think that the win was fair, and that the steel conker was kept in the pocket throughout, but just need to complete the last parts of the investigation," he said.

"Whilst Mr Jakins put his hand in his pocket at the end of the match and indeed threw a conker from a different pocket into the crowd, he was very closely watched by four judges," Mr Burkett added.

"It looks like it was absolutely impossible for him to cheat. We have got some various other testimony that indicates innocence."

The 'King Conker' won the men's competition but ultimately lost the overall final to women's champion Kelci Banschbach, an American woman who took up the game last year.

The World Conker Championships have been held since 1965 and organisers say they have raised £420,000 (approximately €504,500.00) for charity.

Reporting by IRN and Molly Cantwell.

Unnamed competitors at the World Conker Championship, Image: Geoff Sutcliffe/World Conker Championship