World Gravy Wrestling Championships

Dozens gathered in the village of Stacksteads in Lancashire to watch 22 competitors grapple in around 1,500 litres of the meaty sauce today.

Families and friends crowded around a plastic-lined pool to watch contestants, dressed as characters including Gandalf, Fred Flintstone and a pregnant nun, get down and dirty.

The event, billed as 'one of the world's craziest culinary competitions', challenges contestants to wrestle in a pool of gravy for two minutes with points awarded for the best audience response. 

It was held at the Rose n Bowl pub in Rossendale, Lancashire, where the pub and grounds were packed full of spectators despite persistent downpours.

Joel Hicks, who was dressed as Gandalf, was crowned the male champion and the female winner was Nicole Taylor, who was dressed as a cow.

Janice McDonald , who has been to the event every year since its launch in 2006, said: 'It's such a laugh and a novel idea that always draws in the crowds.

'It's very entertaining and it's nice that anyone can take part. I think you need to have a sense of humour to roll around in a load of gravy, 

'It always attracts plenty of people wanting to give it a go.' 

Organisers spent hours on Sunday preparing the huge quantity of gravy and poured 1,000 litres of the still warm meaty sauce into the pool and topped up with 500 litres throughout the tournament.

Father-of-two Gary Mason who watched the event with his family said: 'It made me really hungry and it was really tempting to jump in there myself.

'The first thing we did afterwards was go and buy some chips and gravy, it's one of our favourite foods around here.'

After the wrestling, contestants and spectators also got the chance to take part in the 'Gravy Bucket Challenge'.

Around £3,000 has been raised from the event, which will be donated to the East Lancashire Hospice. 

(dailymail.co.uk)