Nettle eating: Contestants gather for world championships

Reigning women’s champion Bethan Hodges will be travelling from Wales to defend her title.

She had been on a camping holiday with friends when she entered and won last year’s contest, consuming an eye-watering 60ft (18.2m) of nettles.

She said: “I still had little bits of stingy nettle in my fingers for a few days afterwards – that was the most lasting injury.

“My tongue recovered quite quickly but it was very green afterwards.”

Also returning this year is Rob Casey, who said: “Who doesn’t like a free lunch?

“The sting is on the hairs inside the nettles so if you can fold it up, that helps.

“Also dipping the nettles in cider moistens them because the dryness is also quite painful. It minimises the pain but it does still hurt.”