STREET football teams from all over the country descended on Bolton for a fast and furious soccer contest with a difference.

The teams played one of the most popular variants of the game called panna.

The object is to kick a ball through opponents’ legs — which is known as a“nutmeg” — as well as scoring goals.

The freestyle, skill-based sport is popular across Europe, especially in Holland, and its popularity is growing the UK.

The name, panna, is derived from the Dutch and Surinamese word for a nutmeg.

Teams from Bolton, Gateshead, Liverpool, Preston and Aberdeen were among those competing for the top spot on Sunday in Harper Green Leisure Centre, Farnworth.

The competition was set to a backdrop of loud hip-hop music being played by DJ L Double.

Each three-a-side game was played in a small, walled arena and lasted just three minutes — around the length of a musical track.

The contest was eventually won by a team called Phillip Kevin Boyle, from Gateshead, named in honour of one of their members who did not turn up.

The team beat New Bury’s NBC in the final match.

The event was organised by junior football team manager Martin O’Gorman.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant. The feedback from all the lads was really good.

“Some of them asked why can’t we have this every week because they’d be down here all the time.

“There were some really good skills on display. One team, Breightmet Elite, was really turning on the style at the end.”

Sunday’s final came after a street football open day on Saturday, in which youngsters were invited to give the sport a go and learn new skills from professional street football coaches.

To see our video report, go to: theboltonnews.co.uk/video