SUCCESS to the Plough put the sizzle into a sausage-eating competition for our Can You Spare A Minute? appeal.

Landlord Hugh Smyth challenged his customers to beat the current world record of eating eight sausages in a minute.

Each of the 12 contestants pledged a minimum sponsorship of £20, which, along with rides on a bucking rodeo bull, resulted in the pub in Bolton Road raising more than £500 for our appeal.

Among those who entered were Springhill Hospice community fund-raiser Dean Connaughton and his colleague Mick Downes.

All the record attempts were overseen by an adjudicator. Dr Chris Pick measured each individual sausage to make sure they were legal and above board so that anyone who did manage to eat more than eight could be registered as a record breaker.

Unfortunately, Dean and Mick failed to meet the challenge. Dean started to flag after four, while Mick stalled after five-and-a-half.

One of the sausage scoffers almost made it, but started to lose his sizzle halfway through the seventh.

Dean added: "Everyone who took part said that it was a really good, well-organised evening.

"We would like to thank Hugh and his team for a superb event and raising money for the Observer appeal."