WHEN it comes to baking pork pies Eddie Blackburn has got it right at last.

For three years he has been trying to prove he is the "upper crust" at his local pub - and yesterday he did.

Unfortunately, Mr Blackburn could not be there to see his pie triumph over 17 other entries in the competition held at the Cross Keys, Eastgate, Weardale, County Durham.

He was confined to bed, suffering from flu. So it was left to his wife, Carol, to pick up the trophy and a leg of pork donated by the show sponsor - local butcher Castle Bank.

Mr Blackburn was reported to be devastated at not being able to pick up his trophy in person.

"He has been trying to win this for the last three years. Last year he finished in third place and was very confident," said Mrs Blackburn, who hopes that her husband's victory may lead to a rapid recovery.

The pie contest, which is staged by the Sunday Club at the Cross Keys, nestling in the shadow of the doomed Blue Circle cement works, was also hailed as a tonic by villagers.

Wear Valley district councillor Richard Mews, who used to own the Cross Keys, said: "The closure of Blue Circle has been one of the saddest moments in most people's lives in Weardale. But we are resilient folk here in the dale, and it is very important that social events like this should carry on."

Second prize went to farmer William Hutchinson, of Eastgate, and third prize to Athol Graham, landlord of the Cross Keys.