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Christmas is a time for giving, and family, and … really bad jumpers.

And on Saturday, the tradition of unfortunate festive apparel will be celebrated as about 600 people gather in the historic Tarn town of Albi to compete in the inaugural Ugly Jumper World Championship.

Competitors aged between six and 99 are taking part in the event, including a group of camper van drivers. Some have even decided to create their own ugly jumpers specially for the competition. Residents at a retirement home set up a knitting club to create their entries.

There is even an international flavour, with entrants from England, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, organisers have said.

The tournament has been divided into three sections: children, individual and family groups, into which - following a group photograph - the 600 entrants will be divided. A jury will select 20 finalists for each group before deciding on the winners.