CONTESTANTS are wanted to take part in a competitive eating event in York this weekend.

The annual UK Sweetcorn Eating Championships will take place at York Maze on Saturday, August 12, with a £1,000 cash prize for anyone who can set a new world record.

Tom Pearcy, York Maze owner, said: “The competitive corn eating bar has been raised even higher this year.

“Carmen Cincotti from New Jersey, consumed a record 61.75 ears of corn in 12 minutes earlier this year.

“That’s a massive corn mountain to climb, so even if we don’t see a new world record being set, whoever eats the most corn on the cobs in 12 minutes on the day will still win £200, with £100 for second and £50 for third place.”

The UK Sweetcorn Eating championships are being held as part of York Maze’s annual Sweetcorn Festival.

Children will also be able to enter the challenge to eat a single corn-on-the-cob in the fastest time.

Anyone who would like to take part in the competition can turn up on the day and ask to take part in the heats, which involve eating a single corn on the cob.

Heats take place between noon and 3.30pm, the fastest single cob eaters going through to the final at 3.30pm and an attempt at the 12 minute world record.