News from all over - Wigan

Organisers of today's world pie-eating championships were thrown into panic when a dog ate all the pies. They were hoping bakers could produce replacements for at least 10 pies wolfed down by Charlie, a diminutive bichon frise belonging to 1995 champion Dave Williams who was entrusted with guarding the pastries.

"I only turned my back for 10 minutes and they were gone," Williams told the Daily Mirror. Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry's Bar in Wigan, where the competition is held, said: "Former champs are given the pies for safekeeping and to ensure there is no tampering.

"Dave put them in the fridge, but the door did not close properly ... when he came back that bloody dog had ate the pies."

The pies are made to strict specifications for the competition, which is not about the volume eaten but how quickly contestants can eat one pie.
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