A man devoured 58ft of nettles when a notorious eating contest returned.

All eyes were on the west Dorset village of Marshwood at the weekend, when the quirky World Nettle Eating Contest took place at the Bottle Inn.

A big crowd cheered on competitors who, as usual, were challenged to eat as many nettles as possible during the one hour allowed for the competition.

The long hot spell of weather meant that the nettles cut by local farmers were particularly difficult to eat and, as a result, there was no danger on Saturday that the world record set last year by Philip Thorne from Colyton in Devon would be exceeded.

Mr Thorne became the first to ever munch his way through more than 100 ft of nettles.

This year's winner of the men's competition was a local competitor, Tony Jeyes, from Northay Farm in Marshwood.

Cheered on by a large group of supporters, the women's prize was won by 67-year-old Lindie Rogers from Bridport, who said afterwards: "I have never been to the event before and I came to watch but was then persuaded to enter.

"It was great fun despite my hands feeling a bit tingly from all those nettles but the beer and cider certainly helped."

Landlady of the Bottle Inn, Pauline Brookes, presented trophies to the two winners and was widely congratulated for organising such a successful event so soon after the death of her husband Michael, who ran The Bottle with her.

The evening concluded with entertainment being provided by a five piece band, Plain Sailing.