The Devon-Cornwall divide may run deep, but a rousing mix of rivalry, revelry and rhyme from Fisherman’s Friends couldn’t fail to bring audiences to their feet.

A group of Cornish sea shanty singers - famed for performing on the harbour in their home town of Port Isaac throughout the summer - the band took to the stage in the Ham Marquee on Friday, July 31, to rapturous applause for their sell-out gig.

Devon’s Jim Causley paved the way for them as a strong-voiced support act, setting the scene of ribbing and friendly rivalry, with a poetic, powerful and witty series of songs.

Following him onstage, the 10-piece, all-male band of fishermen and sea lovers launched into a powerful a cappella shanty that preceded a rousing set, showcasing the band’s immense musical talents as much as their penchant for fun.

Proudly Cornish, the gig was made by an ongoing repertoire of comedy and a fair dose of healthy county rivalry from the singers that kept the packed marquee crowd enraptured.

The group took it in turns to take the lead, with a bawdy and varied set of shanties, which included actions, audience participation and a tribute to their preferred brew and album title Proper Job.

As well as their own songs, the men did justice to favourites such as What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor? ultimately earning not just one, but two standing ovations.

The proof was certainly in the pudding that Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends can do a right proper job whether on home turf, or the ‘wrong’ side of the river.