TWO wacky competitors travelled all the way from Australia to Ramsbottom just to take part in this year's World Black Pudding Throwing Championships.

But it took local man, Steven Pilkington from Holcombe Brook to show them the way.

More than 200 people took part in the event at The Corner Pin pub, in Bolton Road North, Stubbins, near Ramsbottom, on Sunday afternoon, with another 100 egging them on.

The idea of the competition was to knock 21 Yorkshire puddings from an 18ft high metal plinth secured to the side of the pub.

Organiser Phil Taylor said: "The first thing is to swaddle the black puddings in tights.

"This helps the thrower and also prevents the car park from being splattered by black puddings.

"Then we are ready for action.

"Competitors have to put their best foot forward onto the golden grid, concentrate on the target of the Yorkshire puddings and then lob as hard as they can to knock off as many puddings as possible."

The 150 wholesome black puddings were provided by Chadwick's in Bury free of charge for the event.

Australian Jim Riley managed to knock off four of the puddings before he was beaten to the top spot by Steven. The sport is taken very seriously according to last year's champion Jim, who has lived in Brisbane, Australia, for the past 20 years.

He came to the UK with his wife Trish to take a trip back to his home town of Liverpool and to take part in the championships.

The keen 51-year-old said: "I have been practising all year to try and beat the record of 14 Yorkshire puddings.

"Last year I won with seven, so my sole aim this year was to crack that record because I don't know if I will be able to return next year.

"I hadn't heard about it until I came over here travelling with my wife.

"We read about it in the local press and so I decided to give it a go.

"It is such good fun, I just can't resist having a go.

"I will have to come back now though to get my title back."

Fellow Australian Shane Wolski also turned up at the pub to take part in the event.

In the sport's history -- claimed to date from the 1800s -- the pub says it has had champions from as far afield as Canada, Japan and even Russia.

And with its international ties, landlady Gail Hinks says it should be an event at the next Commonwealth Games.

She said: "Everybody takes it very seriously and we have people coming from all over so there is no reason why it shouldn't be part of the Commonwealth Games. When we moved into the pub the event was not a charity event, so the first thing I did was to change that and provide entertainments for everybody to enjoy.

"It's a great day out for all the family and at the same time we raise vital funds for needy charities."

All the money raised from the event will be donated to Derian House Children's Hospice, in Chorley, and Stepping Stones. The winner received a "golden" black pudding and Yorkshire pudding.