A VILLAGE tradition is alive and well at one North Yorkshire pub.

Boys and men in the village of Melsonby, near Richmond, battled it out for the coveted title of Melsonby Master Chef in the annual Bacon and Egg Pie Competition at the Black Bull pub.

This year the contest, which is closed to women, was won by pub regular Gordon Angus who has taken the runner-up spot on two previous occasions.

Contest organiser Martin Vickerman said: "It all started about 15 years ago, when two regulars were discussing what constitutes the perfect bacon and egg pie.

"That lead on to debates about who could make it, and the competition has grown and grown since then.

"This year we had about a dozen entries from people aged from 15-70, although the rules still say no women are allowed to enter.

"I'm sure they'd beat us all if they did, but instead they all just come along and laugh."

He added: "All the pies are judged on presentation, taste and texture and by the end of the night most of them have been eaten up.

"It's great fun, and we all really enjoy being able to keep a real village tradition alive."