COMEDIAN Rory McGrath was among the plucky competitors at another hotly fought stinging nettle eating contest in Marshwood.

The TV star was at the Bottle Inn to film the annual world championships for a new show about quirky British pastimes - called Rory and Paddy's Road of Sports. But he didn't win the cup.

That was retained by last year's winner Paul Collins, a builder from Lyme Regis, who chomped his way through 64ft of nettles - just 12ft short of the all-time best, set by three-times winner Simon Sleigh, from Hawkchurch.

The ladies' winner was another previous champ - Jo Carter, of Weymouth.

After her absence last year she returned to claim the crown she first won in 2006, this time swallowing 36ft of nettles - a world record for the women.

A record 60 people braved the rain to take part in the tournament, eating yards of nettles at blistering pace, washing down the prickly leaves with glasses of ale. In fact they did so well the organisers had to send out for more plants.

The event, organised by landlord Shane Pym and his wife Ellen, was part of the pub's annual beer festival which attracted a record number and raised £120 for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.