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Costumed competitors slopped and grappled for victory in the World Gravy Wrestling Championships.

More than 1,500 people gathered in the Bank Holiday sunshine to watch the annual contest in Bacup, Lancashire.

Superman, a Brussels sprout and a Yorkshire Pudding were among the contestants in fancy dress, falling around in a paddling pool filled with hundreds of litres of the brown stuff.

Each bout lasted for two minutes and wrestlers were scored on audience applause. The dripping fighters were then hosed clean by the fire service.

The fun-filled event is hosted each year at the Rose N Bowl pub, on Newchurch Road in Bacup.

Landlady Carol Lowe said: “The turnout has been absolutely fantastic and we've been really lucky with the weather.”

All pictures by Steve Allen