THOUSANDS of people flocked to Ramsbottom to sample a taste of the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships.

The annual event returned on Sunday, attracting ‘record crowds’ with more than 800 competitors trying their hand at the wacky competition.

Pudding throwers from the age of three to 80 assembled at The Royal Oak, in Bridge Street, to compete for the much-vaunted crown.

They hurled black puddings at a 20ft-high ceremonial plinth in a bid to dislodge as many Yorkshire puddings as possible.

Phil Taylor, one of the organisers for the Stubbins Community Trust, said: “We had a record breaking crowd. Everyone enjoyed the day and the weather was kind to us.

“The youngest competitor was a three-year-old and the eldest was in her 80s. We had groups from the United States, Hong Kong and Australia – so many people got involved.

They’ve never seen anything like it, it was great fun.”

Mark Cannon, aged 52, of Swinton, was crowned world champion after knocking eight Yorkshire puds off the plinth to take the £100 prize and trophy. It was the first time he had competed, but has already confirmed he would return next year to defend his title. The junior winner was Alex Norris, aged 11, who earned a trophy and £20 prize.

The competiton was followed by the Pudfest music festival.

Black pudding throwing has been the result of a long-standing rivalry dating back to 1455, between Lancashire and Yorkshire.

When raiders from Yorkshire met in Stubbins to attack, both sides ran out of things to defend themselves with, so food was thrown instead – black puddings from Lancashire and Yorkshire puddings from Yorkshire.