For years, competitors at the World Pie Eating Championship in Wigan have shown their eating prowess by gobbling as many meat and potato pies as they could manage in three minutes. But this year, in a break from tradition, the champion scoffers will compete to eat just a single pie in the fastest time possible.

Organisers of the annual event say the changes have been made in light of the Government's healthy eating advice and anti-obesity campaign, and will also offer vegetarian options.

“They've taken things too far this year – pies are supposed to be meat and potato and anything else just isn't normal,” said Dave Smyth, 48, from Hindley, who won the first contest in 1992 when he ate an impressive four pies in three minutes.

Source: The Times