FIRST foie gras, then milk - now Richard and Judy.

One York councillor got a shot in the national spotlight, when he was a special guest panellist on the popular Channel 4 chat show.

Paul Blanchard, Labour representative for Heworth, was one of three councillors invited on to the show to give their take on the apparently-absurd decisions made by civic chiefs around the land.

Our own City of York Council escaped embarrassment in the series of "Silly Isles" clips, but Coun Blanchard and his fellow guests were asked to comment on a range of odd calls, including a council in Scotland which left lights on in an abandoned school - in case vandals fell and hurt themselves.

The other guests were from the other two mainstream parties, and Coun Blanchard said: "I think we all looked like our party stereotypes actually - the crusty, old pompous Tory, the holier-than-thou Lib Dem, and the young New Labour type in a suit without a tie.

"About a month ago I was on Market Kitchen, a food programme hosted by Tana Ramsay - Gordon's wife - arguing with a Frenchman about foie gras.

"I was spotted by the Richard and Judy team who invited me to come on. I really enjoyed it - though it's always nerve-racking when it's live."


Flat cap frisbee throw a winner

ENGLAND is renowned for its so-called "quirky events" - black pudding throwing, welly wanging, and gurning perhaps being among the more unusual of these.

Yorkshire is no stranger to these peculiar traditions and this year's World Championship Flat Cap Throwing Competition in the east Yorkshire village of Fridaythorpe has been hailed by organisers as a "resounding success."

About 100 competitors - including a 92-year-old woman - pitted it out at the village fête.

There was local victory when Martin D'Agostino of Fridaythorpe, was crowned master flatcapper, winning the contest with his first ever throw of a flat cap, achieving an impressive 25.4m.

Mr D'Agostino said: "I love Frisbee throwing and I think that gave me a head start. I can't wait to come back next year to defend my title."

The other winners, who were each presented with a trophy in the Under 10s, Under 16s and Women categories, were: Daniel, aged six, Curtis, 13, and Lynne Quayle.

It wasn't entirely about the quirky though - the event raised £450 for community projects, such as the village pond and Little Angels Toddler Group.