REVELLERS who fancied their throwing arms travelled to Ramsbottom from across the country and beyond for the official World Black Pudding Throwing Championships.

Around 2,000 people took to The Oaks pub on Bridge Street for the annual event, which sees competitors attempt to dislodge giant Yorkshire puddings from a 20ft high plinth.

They did this by throwing black puddings – priced at £1 for three – as hard as they could, with the winner awarded a trophy and £100 cash prize.

This year saw a first in the history of the competition – welder Huseyin Ozluk, who was also crowned champion in 2009, took victory.

Mr Ozluk, originally from Turkey and now living in Ramsbottom, clinched the prize after knocking six puds from the scaffolding.

He also beat two other competitors with the same score in a head-to-head lob off.

Mr Ozluk, aged 44, said: “I am so happy to be the champion again and I am sure to be back next year.

“It feels amazing to have been the only person to be world champion twice so I will have to come back and defend my title.”

In the children’s age category, 11-year-old Tommy Hannaway of Brierley Street, Fishpool was awarded first place after knocking five Yorkshire puddings from the 10ft junior plinth.

The championship, which commemorates Lancastrians who repelled raiding parties from Yorkshire during the War of the Roses, has been organised by the Stubbins Community Trust since 1984.

It was held at the Corner Pin pub in Stubbins until 2002 and all funds raised are distributed to charities in the borough.

Co-organiser Jim Cuncliffe, “The competition was started in 1839 and became a world championship in 1984.

“Next year’s contest will be both the 30th anniversary of the world championship and the 175th birthday of the original competition beginning so we will have to plan something big.

“It has lasted all this time and attracted so many people because it is such a fun event to take part in and brings the community out in full force to celebrate.

“We have been really lucky with the weather this year – and I think more people have taken part since 2012 because of the legacy of the Olympic games.”

Presenters Amberley and Gilly from Australian children’s TV show Wacky World Beaters attended the event for an upcoming episode and presented the winners with their prizes.

Organiser Phil Taylor added: “I would like to say thanks to everyone who turned up, to everyone who put a pound in the bucket and to everyone who took part for making this another fantastically successful year.”

From 1pm the space behind the Bridge Street Pub was also the site of Pudfest, a music festival which saw bands including Uke Punk, Point Blank and The Zimmermen perform.

Michael Thomas, aged 26, travelled from Berlin to experience the event and was thrilled to take part – although sadly failed to knock down a single Yorkshire.

He said: “We are in Ramsbottom visiting my aunt and thought it would be fun to come down and experience this northern tradition.

“I have never done anything like this before but it is a great way of immersing ourselves in British culture.”