WANNABE hot dog eating champ Barry Noble missed out on the British title yesterday - because he was too handy.

Mr Noble, 57 a retired civil servant, from Kielder, Northumberland, swallowed four of the six-inchers in just three minutes - as did the winner.

But the judges disqualified him because he breached the contest's rules by wrapping both his hands around the bun-encased meat.

"He has competed in the United States, where you are allowed to use both hands. Here, you can only use one,'' said Alistair Brad-ley, spokesman for organisers Wimpy.

"On two or three occasions he momentarily got both hands around it. He probably forgot himself in the heat of the moment and thought he was playing by American rules.

"He really is a gentleman and he accepted that he had done it. He did the North-East proud.''

Yesterday, at the Trocadero Centre, in London's West End, he was up against stiff opposition before Peter Dowdeswell, 61, from Northamptonshire, was declared the winner.

Mr Noble did not go away empty-handed. All contestants received £500 for their favourite charity.

He will donate his money to the North-East Air Ambulance and the Newcastle-based Child Jigsaw Appeal.