A meat and potato pie attached to a weather balloon has been "sent into space".

The pioneering pastry - believed to be the first ever launched into the stratosphere - was launched from Wigan.

Space enthusiasts have attached a camera and tracking equipment to monitor the pie's progress as it soars above the Earth's crust.

The aim is to see if its journey, of up to about 100,000 feet, changes the molecular structure of the pie.

Pie-makers from St Helens were commissioned to make the pie ahead of the World Pie Eating Championships next week.

They said they thought it would freeze on its ascent and be cooked on re-entry.