MARIGOLD stormed home to win by a snout at the first "Ham National" held in East Lancs.

Hundreds flocked to watch the first pig race in the area with the likes of Desert Porkid, Francis Bacon, Le Jambon, Red Ham and Frankie Deporky in the running.

The event was part of the Lancashire and Ribble Valley Countryside Festival held at Hawkshaw Farm, Clayton-le Dale.

Despite protests from an animal rights group that racing pigs was "cruel", plenty of people went to watch the six contenders in action over the 50m course complete with miniature fences.

The pigs, all aged four and five months, belong to Warwickshire-based Fossett circus family, who began racing pigs two years ago.

Rebecca Fossett, who provided the commentary for all four races, said: "We've been doing camel racing for seven years, and then somebody suggested we try pigs.

"We did do, and they were hugely popular, we travel all over the country holding them."

She dismissed any suggestion that the event is cruel to the animals. "It's purely for a bit of fun, and the pigs themselves thoroughly enjoy it, largely because we entice them out of the starting gate with food!"

Mike Platt, from Corbetts Bookmakers, said: "It's been a great bit of fun, people just had to pick a number and hope the fastest pig gets that number!

"A third of the betting proceeds is going to charity, so it's also all in a good cause."

The pig races were a new attraction at the festival, which is organised by farm owners Eric and Amanda Dowson.

Now in its second year, the event aims to boost tourism to the Ribble Valley.