Pie-eating championship goes slimline

The World Pie Eating Championship - not previously known for its adherence to the principles of healthy eating - has been rocked by new rules designed to help the fight against obesity.

In a break with tradition, contestants in the Wigan-based competition will no longer have to eat as many meat and potato pies as possible in three minutes.



Instead, they will compete to eat just one pie in the fastest time And for those health-conscious professional pie-eaters, the competition will include a vegetarian option for the first time.

Organisers of the annual event say the changes have been made in the light of the government's healthy eating advice.