It's probably one of Dorset's most unusual events, but competitors come from all over the world: The World Nettle Eating Championships

It's probably one of Dorset's most unusual events, but competitors come from all over the world: The World Nettle Eating Championships - one hour of eating as many stinging nettles as your stomach can bare!

Held as part of a charity beer festival at the Bottle Inn in the village of Marshwood near Crewkerne, the event attracts entrants from around the world. As the competition's fame has spread, nettle eaters from as far as New York, Australia, Northern Ireland and Belgium make the trip to West Dorset.

As the huge bunches of stinging nettles arrive, the competitors face one hour of munching their way through the leaves, and the winner is whoever finishes with the most two foot stalks, stripped of their leaves.

Although competitive nettle eating is something some may not seem as very palatable, nettles have been used by many top chefs, nettle tea is widely available, and they have long been used as a medicinal herb.