A TON of gravy sloshed left, right and centre as an East Lancashire wrestling contest took place yesterday.

Costume clad men and woman competed for their chance at this year's Gravy Wrestling champion title, which saw the likes of cowboys, a Scotsman and giant penguin wrestle in the Rose and Bowl pub in Stacksteads, Rossendale.

The eight women and 16 men tried their best against the 1,000 litres of gravy, each other and the rain.

And martial arts and judo experts showed the amateurs how true professionals wrestle as part of an exhibition set.

The winners of this year’s gravy wrestling championships were Emma Slater, from Stacksteads, and Joel Hicks, from Leicester.

Hundreds packed into the Newchurch Road pub to watch the event which took months of organising by Andy Holt and Sara Lusty, both from the Real Black Pudding Company, and Ken Claxon and John Lowe, from the pub.

Andy, who had spent hours the night before making the gravy for the fifth annual contest, said: “It's been great and it's been bigger and better than ever.”

The organisers raise funds for East Lancashire Hospice and were on course to raise £3,000.

Click on the link below for our photo gallery from the event.