'It's like the 100m sprint of puzzling, it gets faster and faster'

From idyllic rural scenes to bespoke pet designs, jigsaw puzzles are a perfect way to while away a lazy day – but for more than 200 people in Bradford this weekend, it was all about speed.

The UK's first federation-approved puzzling championships took place on Saturday, with competitors from across the globe battling to complete 500-piece puzzles as quickly as possible.

The event at Woodhouse Grove School in Apperley Bridge, was hosted by the UK Jigsaw Puzzle Association – with two events, a solo event and a pairs competition.

The solo round was won by Emma Quirke, from Kerry, in Ireland, in a time of 41 minutes and 55 seconds.

Speaking afterwards she said she had been doing jigsaws her whole life, but only started speed puzzling last year.

"I didn't expect to win. You forget about everything, and you're just in the puzzle, I didn't notice anyone else in the room at all," she said.

"I didn't really look at the box, I just made all the little pieces I could find and then try to put them together. It's my first time winning so I'm really excited."

The UK Jigsaw Puzzle Association was set up by Anneka Thompson from Harrogate, she said while there had been puzzling championships in the UK before, this was the first event in line with the rules of the world federation.

"It will keep growing. We've had people travel over from , Ireland and Australia today to compete, so it's exciting," she said.

Like many people taking part in the event, Ms Thompson began speed puzzling in lockdown.

"I've puzzled my whole life as a hobby and then during lockdown people would say 'oh you've done that quickly' and I would say 'oh, that's just how I do them, is that quick":[]}