A BLACKBURN man flying the flag for 'real blokes' everywhere is asking people to throw their weight behind him as he seeks to lift a national title.

Ted Sayers is in front in a national vote in the finals of the Real Bloke Challenge, run by pie-makers Fray Bentos.

The competition is being run to find the antidote to preening males, men who don't fuss over what they eat or what their hair looks like.

Ted, 30, has the slight edge at the moment but is being closely followed by contestants from Leeds and Gateshead. But with the phone lines open until midnight on May 20, there's still all to play for.

He is now urging the people of Blackburn and the rest of East Lancashire to vote for him so he can bring the title back home.

He said: "I can't believe I'm in the lead, although that could all change in the last week. All I can ask is that the good people of the north west keep phoning in and text voting for me."

Ted, of Brownhill Drive, Blackburn won the regional heat in March this year. Since then he has travelled to London to record a series of radio adverts and take part in a glitzy photoshoot because Ted is starring in his very own poster campaign.

The posters, featuring Ted dressed as Tarzan have been up around the town centre and in supermarkets encouraging people to vote for him. They have even earned him the nickname 'Lard of the Jungle' from his mates!

Ted, an office manager, is up against stiff opposition from Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster and Gateshead but stands to win a family holiday to Florida if he is named 'Pie Idol'.

People can vote for Ted by calling 0845 456 1099 or texting "vote ted" to 83080.