PASTRY enthusiasts will be in for a treat later this year when a pub hosts the inaugural Great Lancashire Pork Pie Bake Off.

The Black Bull in Edgworth will hold the contest in June when butchers and bakers from across the county will be invited to present their creations for visitors to try.

The idea came from the Lancashire Pork Pie Appreciation Society, based at the pub, which meets regularly to try some of the county’s hot water crust delights.

President Carl Abbott, 54, said: “We thought this would be really fun off the back of setting up the society and we hope it will spark people’s imaginations.

“I’m baking a pie for it and I hardly know how to turn an oven, so I’m hoping plenty of people will have a go.

“I think it will be great to find out about different butchers and pie makers as well and help promote them.”

Planning is in its early stages for the event on Sunday, June 25, but it is hoped visitors will be able to sample all the pies in exchange for a £2 donation to Macmillan Cancer Support.

The society decided to support the cause after pub landlord Steve Bentley’s dad became ill with cancer.

People will then be able to vote for what they think has the best pastry, best jelly and best pork, which will be the three awards presented on the day.

Mr Abbott said: “A few of us regulars at the pub do talk about food and the society grew basically when one of the members brought a pie in and we tried it and then someone else said we had to try another one.

“We’ve got a few people we know will be entering from the Bolton and Bury areas but we want entries from right across the county and we hope that will happen as we push the event.”

The society meets on the first and third Monday of every month at the Black Bull at 9.30pm and there are 15 members at present.

Each week they will give a featured pie a rating for pastry, pork and jelly and then calculate an overall score.

The bake off will begin at 8pm.