WITH gravy wrestling in Stacksteads and black pudding throwing in Ramsbottom, East Lancashire has a reputation for being home to weird and wonderful competitions.
Now Brockholes Nature Reserve in Samlesbury has created its own 'special' event after hosting its ever Worm Charming Championships.
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Around 40 entrants got their fingers dirty during the day, which was aimed at children and saw the youngsters singing and dancing to lure the worms to the surface.
Sarah Leach, events and communications manager at the Preston New Road attraction, said the competition was a mixture of learning and fun.
She said: "It's the first one we've had. We've done worm charming in the past as part of other outdoor events about worms but this is the first time we've actually measured the results.
"We tend to do a lot of events around the nature but this was something a little bit different.
"They seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves and they all had smiles on their faces."
Jacob McLoughlin, aged three from Whalley, took the top prize for collecting the most worms - 31 inside two hours.
The longest worm was a 28cm monster found by Stephen Ward, six, from St Anne's, while the heaviest was a 4gram beast discovered by James Eden, three, from St Helens.
Most worm charming methods involve vibrating the soil to encourage worms to the surface.
Techniques vary from sprinkling the turf with water, tea and beer, to acupuncture, music or just 'twanging' with a garden fork.
Birds, such as seagulls, and wood turtles are among the animals which stamp their feet to charm worms to the surface.
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