BLACK puddings topped the menu for hundreds of traditional food fans.

For visitors to Rossendale were able to enjoy a weekend devoted to the dish.

Ramsbottom was home to the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships - which ran alongside a popular Ramsbottom Farmers' Market.

And in Bacup, the International Black Pudding Festival attracted folk from all over the North of England.

The festival, held at the Crown Inn, Todmorden Road, yesterday, saw people take in a cookery demonstration by Tom Bridge, a chance to sample black pudding dishes from around the world, stalls, guest beers and entertainment from the Britannia Coconutters."

In Ramsbottom, a pudding-lobbing contest was held at the Royal Oak in Bridge Street for the second year running. With one foot on a "golden grid", each competitor had three chances of throwing Black Puddings at a pile of Yorkshire puddings heaped on a tray about 20 feet up the side of a tower.

The winner was the person knocked down the most Yorkshire puddings with three underarm throws of a black pudding, wrapped in old tights.

Councillor Steve Perkins, Bury Council's executive member for regeneration and housing, said, "The event brought in hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors from far and wide helping to put the borough on the map.

"That has got to be good for local trade."

Contestants paid £1 each to enter and all of the proceeds from the day will go to the Stubbins Community Trust, which helps local charities.