A PAIR of sharp-shooting East Lancashire MPs took part in an archery contest on Speakers’ Green, in Westminster.

Conservative MPs Nigel Evans and Andrew Stephenson, who represent the Ribble Valley and Pendle respectively, attended the first sporting event to be hosted by the Houses of Parliament.

They received expert coaching from Great Britain international archers Nicky Hunt, Andrea Gales, James Bingham, and Rikki Bingham, before competing against other MPs and peers.

The aim of the archery event was to raise the sport’s profile ahead of the London Olympics next year.

Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill and Karl McCartney, MP for Lincoln, were joint top scorers with 51 points.

Each of the winners received a £250 cheque to donate to an archery club.

Pendle MP Mr Stephenson said: “Sadly I was beaten by some other MPs whose skills must have been able to put Kevin Costner, or Russell Crowe, to shame.”