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More than a thousand people have flocked to an English village for the 2009 world nettle eating championships.

Summer means one thing in this English country village.

Forget creams teas and roses - in Marshwood it's time for the nettle eating championships.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDY TAYLOR, JUDGE, SAYING:

"Well your mouth starts to go black but also the nettle tend to ferment in your body so you get this nice gurgling sensation, bit like a sheep in your body and it gonna go one way or the other either come out one end or go up back up the other.

and that where these people that come into the event who have never done it before suddenly are surprised that they are vomiting without even knowing it - so it' quite a surprise to them."

The judges have all been competitors - Simon Slee is a former world record holder.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD RECORD HOLDER (7 FEET) & JUDGE, SIMON SLEE, SAYING:

"You got get into that routine right from the word go- you got to pick your nettles and you have to eat them as fast as you can obviously but then while you are eating prepare the next leaf to eat, so you get into a natural rhythm."

The nettles are covered in thousands of microscopic needles and boric acid.

Contestants can either eat them raw or dip into a pint of beer.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNKNOWN COMPETITOR, SAYING:

"Its' alright if you can stuff it in and get the confidence - it's fine."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN COMPETITOR, SAYING:

"Fabulous - I am stalk number 9, this stuff taste great."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNKNOWN COMPETITOR, SAYING:

"I am gonna have a ring stinger if you know what I mean."

But not everyone was having fun.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN COMPETITOR, SAYING:

(Reporter says: "Tell me truthfully") "It hurts a little."

There were two winners this year. They each ate 48 feet - that's around 14 metres - of nettles.