News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The annual World Nettle Eating Championships has been won by a contestant called Thorne who devoured 86ft of stinging nettles.

The bizarre competition takes place at the Bottle Inn pub in the village of Marshwood, Dorset, and sees dozens of challengers line up to eat as many 2ft long stalks of nettles as possible in an hour.

Phil Thorne, a chef, beat off the nearest challenger who could only munch his way through 73ft of nettles. It is the second time Phil has won the title in three years.

Some 40 people entered the wacky event which first started in 1997 after a local farmer lost a bet with another over who had the longest nettles, with the loser having to eat a whole stem.

Phil, from Colyton, Devon, said: “It doesn’t hurt as much as you might think, you just get a tingling around your mouth.

(Image: BNPS) (Image: BNPS)

“The worst bit is the jaw ache because you’re chewing for an hour straight.

“I get quite carried away with it to be honest, with the crowd cheering us on. It’s quite exciting.

“The juice from the nettles has left a bit of blackness around my mouth.

Read more:Action from a previous championship

“It does leave you having to go to the toilet quite regularly.

“It’s quite therapeutic really, some people pay for a detox which does a similar thing.”

(Image: BNPS) (Image: BNPS)