Hundreds of people gathered for a night of fun at the World Gurning Championship in Egremont.

Adults and children filled the Falcon Club for the popular competition, part of the town’s Crab Fair.

Winner for the male section was Guinness World Record holder, who has now won 17 times, Aspatria’s Tommy Mattinson.

After taking a break last year for health reasons, he was thrilled to come back to reclaim his title.

“It’s great to win again – every time is special,” he said. “I wasn’t very well last year, so I came back this year hoping, and I’m just really pleased to win.

“It’s nice to have the support from Egremont, and it’s great that this tradition’s carried on.

“I’ll always come back for as long as I can!”

There were 15 entries in the section and Adrian from Coventry, who won the title last year, came third.

But he wasn’t disappointed to lose it.

He said: “I’m over the moon, there’s way better gurners than me, I shouldn’t even be here.

“The Crab Fair is great and the gurning is just the icing on the cake.”

Gordon Blacklock, 72, of Whitehaven, was runner-up.

This year he was celebrating his 40th consecutive entry in the male gurning.

He said: “It’s tradition and it must be supported. If we stop doing this, the event is going to die and we can’t let that happen.”

The female section was won by Claire Spedding-Lister, who won in 2013 and then has held the title since 2015.

Surrounded by her adoring fans, Claire said: “I was so nervous at first – I was up against really good competition.

“I’m pleased the crown’s stayed in Egremont. I never practice, never change my face – the key is just to pull an ugly face!”

Runner-up in the section, which had 19 entries, was Linda Varey, 63.

Linda is originally from Workington but now lives in Huddersfield.

It was the first time Linda was entering the gurning competition.

She said: “It’s a big achievement for me, I’m recovering from cancer, I had cancer of the face and coming second is a great satisfaction.”

There were 33 entries in the junior section, which saw entries from all over West Cumbria and further afield.

The winner was 11-year-old Summer Dawson, of Kendal.

She said: “It feels very good to win. I didn’t get through last year, so I’m really pleased!”

“I’ve been practicing quite a bit, so it feels really good to win,” she added, with a big grin.

Summer’s mum, and third place women's gurner, Tiree Dawson said: “I’m so proud of her – she’s practised loads so she definitely earned it!”

Runner-up was last year’s winner Georgia Lister and third was Lexie Park.

They were handed a trophy and a rosette each by this year’s Crab Fair Queen Ellie Dixon.

People enjoyed some dancing in between the different sections of the competition and even an impromptu flossing competition, which saw dozens of children challenging a handful of adults.

One of the five judges, Deputy Mayor of Copeland David Moore, was “really enjoying” the evening, and said: “I didn’t realise how much hard work it would be!

“It’s been really difficult, but the atmosphere’s great - we can hear the sighs and support from the crowd, because we can’t always please them, but we do our best.”

He added: “It’s all our first time judging the gurning, and it’s been absolutely brilliant. I didn’t realise there were so many ugly faces to pull!”