YOU don't have to be mad to live with Phil Taylor -- but it helps.

The 49-year-old father of three from Stubbins has just been named one of the most eccentric people in the country when he was placed eighth out of 50 like minded folk at the first ever award ceremony celebrating the Best of British Eccentrics.

Phil joined budgie fanatics, worming charming champions , parking cone collectors -- among others -- at a bash at a top London hotel where non-other than Sir Norman Wisdom, who is patron saint of the Friends of Chernobyl's Children, based in Wilpshire, crowned the King of clown princes.

That 'honour' fell to Lyndon Yorke , from Buckingham, who likes nothing more than to sail his Edwardian tricycle-come-catamaran -- called the Tritanic -- down the River Thames. Like you do!

Phil was put forward for the awards due to his penchant for puddings.

The industrial engineer, of East View, in Stubbins, is one of the main organisers behind the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, held every year at his local pub, the Corner Pins.

And even though he has been involved for years, he is light-years behind eight-year-old son Sean --who shares the world champion belt with Australian Jim Riley.

Phil said: "I am useless at it, I always have been. But it's just a laugh -- part of the Great British spirit is to laugh at yourself."

Far from being long-suffering, wife Jackie and other children Kelly, 13 and Chris, 17, love their dad's madcap antics.

And Phil himself sees nothing odd about him -- or indeed his eccentric colleagues.

He said: "The essence of eccentricity is not actually thinking you are eccentric, and a lot of people I met genuinely did not think they were.

"It was a great day and absolutely fabulous to meet Sir Norman Wisdom -- he's been wacky for years."