THIS Sunday will see the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships return to Ramsbottom.

Hundreds of pudding lobbers from around the world are expected to descend on the town for the annual contest.

With that in mind, here are five things you need to know about the unusual sport.

1) The event dates back hundreds of years

Black pudding throwing is said to date back to the War of the Roses, where legend has it that during the final battle in Stubbins, the troops ran out of ammunition and resorted to throwing food at each other.

Black pudding was thrown by the Lancashire troops, while Yorkshire pudding were thrown by their counterparts.

And old grudges persist as competitors are required to hurl the local delicacy onto a 20ft-high plinth in a bid to dislodge a dozen Yorkshire puddings.

2) Competitors of all ages are welcome

People in their 80s have been known to take part in the past, while there is also a junior competition to allow youngsters to get in on the action.

The plinth is raised slightly lower at 10ft, and one successful youngster will walk away with a prize of £20. Better than doing household chores, right?

3) People travel from around the world to watch and take part

The competition’s unusual nature regularly attracts competitors and spectators from as far away as Australia and the Far East, giving it an international flavour.

Last year’s event saw competitors from Toronto, Brisbane, Wales, as well as plenty from across Ramsbottom and Bury.

Its popularity has been boosted by television crews from across the globe descending on the town to report on the championships over the years. In 2009, TV stars Paddy McGuinness and Rory McGrath took part as part of their Channel Five extreme sports show, Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure.

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4) It isn't easy

Despite many defending champions returning to take part the following year, only one person has actually won it more than once in its 34-year history.

That record belongs to welder Huseyin Ozluk, who was crowned champion in 2009, and won for a second time in 2013.

Mr Ozluk, originally from Turkey but who was living in Ramsbottom at the time, clinched the prize for a second time after knocking six puds from the scaffolding.

Sadly, he could not repeat the feat the following year, losing his title to his father-in-law John Barrett, who managed to topple 10 Yorkshires.

5) The competition has not always been based in Ramsbottom town centre

When the tradition of black pudding throwing was brought back by Stubbins Community Trust in 1984, it was initially held at the Corner Pin pub in Stubbins.

However, the pub closed in May 2003, leaving many fearing that the championship may have been lost forever.

Thankfully, Stuart Law, the landlord at the Royal Oak, now the Oaks, stepped in to offer it a new home in Ramsbottom town centre, where it has been held ever since.