CITY ping pong players have suffered a crushing defeat in the name of art.

A three-day marathon game of table tennis took place over the bank holiday weekend.

The event was the latest organised by the Lincoln Art Programme and involved performance group Search Party, who challenged passers-by to play them and become part of the exhibition.

Search Party has hosted similar events across the UK and Europe and their aim is to "attempt to create temporary communities, inviting spectators to become co-collaborators in the live event".

Lincoln Art Programme co-ordinator Amelia Beavis-Harrison told the Echo: "It was a really good event and we had a huge turn out, despite the wind and rain, which stopped play a couple of times.

"The score line was devastating for Lincoln, it finished Search Party 61, Lincoln 14.

"That is the worst defeat any city has suffered. We even had the number one player in the county come down and play."