THE teenage winner of the World Gravy Wrestling Championships said his mum was “ecstatic” and his brothers gave him a gravy-soaked hug after he won the competition.

The East Lancs Hospice fundraiser at the Rose n Bowl in Stacksteads on Monday saw contestants wrestle in a pool of gravy for two minutes, with points scored for fancy dress, comedy effect and entertainment,

Winner George Young, 18, won the competition after wrestling in gravy for several rounds and was awarded a trophy and £100.

“Because it is only a small town, it is a big thing, and (the trophy is) going to be there forever, really, so it’s pretty cool,” said Mr Young, who lives in Stacksteads.

Mr Young said he “expected to go out in maybe the first couple rounds” but it felt “really good” to win the competition.

On his winning strategy, he said: “I was not wearing myself out quickly really, and doing bigger moves, so it gave me time in between, instead of doing a lot smaller moves.”

Scroll through the gallery for fantastic photos from the event on Bank Holiday Monday, by Phil Taylor 

The teenager decided to compete in the strange competition after seeing an ad for it on Facebook and said he received mixed reactions when he told his friends and family.

“My friends laughed at me and said I am crazy but my parents said ‘good on you’ and they were proud,” he said.

Another competitor Hannah Havard, 30, who was dressed as a Dalmatian, added: “It was absolutely wild. I’ve never done anything like it in my life.

"It was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever done. Everyone there was absolutely lovely. It was a really fun day for everyone.”