MECHANICAL racing pigs are to raise funds for a York sports club this weekend.

Acorn ARL Sports and Social Club, in Thanet Road, is holding races with the automated pigs to raise money for the Acorn redevelopment fund.

The races, involving eight pigs at a time, will take place at the club between 1pm and 7pm tomorrow.

The battery-operated pigs will be wearing Rugby League shirts of teams including St Helens, Widnes and Bradford for the event. One porker may even wear a specially-made Acorn shirt with the club's crest.

Event organiser Bill Blackburn said that the club organised pig racing every other year, and it usually raised about £400.

He said: "We even had a visit from the RSPCA in the past. They thought we were racing real pigs."

The pigs, made by Dave Cussons, live at South Bank Working Men's Club when they are resting. They race on a special track and go by names such as Good Porkin, Black Pudding and Piggy Sue.

Updated: 10:24 Saturday, March 02, 2002