Organisers have hailed the success of Tearfund's Big Quiz Night on Saturday.

More than 22,000 people from South Wales to the Shetlands and Bournemouth to Belfast pitted their wits against each other as more than 500 British churches put on events. Participants were encouraged to make a £5 donation to take part, with funds going towards the Christian international relief and development charity's work in more than 50 countries around the world.

St John's Church, Neville's Cross, Durham, was one of many that linked up to Tearfund's online dashboard on the night, which displayed the number of participants nationwide. One quiz-goer said: 'The totaliser wowed everyone and they all said how it was wonderful to feel part of something that we were doing all together across the nation.'

Churches were supplied with a resource pack, including a ready-made film in which Tearfund ambassadors presented the questions, meaning groups large and small were able to take part on an equal footing. Categories included general knowledge, food and drink, geography, film and TV, sport and music, and were conveyed with help from rap artist Guvna B, baker Tom Herbert, Olympic rower Peter Chambers and MP Stephen Timms.

Tearfund's fundraising director Jane Pleace said: 'We wanted to make life easy for churches large and small by presenting them with a ready-made way to have an evening of fun. Hundreds responded and thousands of people were entertained, in groups ranging from four to over 160.

'Tearfund will be able to use the funds raised to bring transformation to the lives of people like Areej from Syria, who has been living in a tent in a refugee camp in Lebanon with her family for seven years.'

She added: 'Churches who like to plan ahead may want to keep Saturday 16th November 2019 free for next year's Big Quiz Night.'