Forget the Grand National and Royal Ascot. One Norfolk village is wriggling with excitement for maggot racing.

Eighty maggots will be squirming their way to the finish line at the village hall in Kettlestone, near Fakenham, on Saturday.

Some of the hotly-tipped maggots competing will be Time to Fly, owned and trained by Mohammed Al Flyed; Bugs R Us's, The Grub Runner; and Blue Bottle Revenge from Stuna Stud.

The event is being held to raise money for Kettlestone Village Hall.

Bridget Fielden, from the village hall committee, said: 'We were looking to find a new way of raising money for the hall.

'One of our committee members, Barrie Bishop, mentioned that his daughter had been involved in maggot racing in Cromer in the past and suggested that we do it here.

'We all thought that it looked like good fun and there has been a lot of excitement about it in the village.'

Mr Bishop's daughter, Julie Overall, helped to organise maggot racing at The Cottage pub in Cromer last year.

She will be in Kettlestone on Saturday to ensure the races run smoothly.

She said: 'We have a friend who works in a tackle shop in Cromer and has a ready supply of maggots so we thought why not do something totally wacky and unusual.

'A few people got together and made a track and it made for absolutely hysterical night of entertainment.

'The maggots move much quicker than people would think.

'They don't need any prompting they just start darting towards the finish line.'

There will be 10 races, each with eight maggots in, all competing on a specially-made track, with the winner the first across the finish line.

People can buy a maggot before Saturday for £2 and a win will secure the owner £10.

Bets can also be made on the night.

Sandra Rhodes, from the Kettlestone Village Hall Committee, said: 'I'm not sure what we will be able to give to the winning maggots.

'Obviously we won't be able to pin rosettes on them.'

She added: 'I'm no expert on maggot racing, but my tip would be to bet on the skinnier looking maggots.

'We will be enforcing random drug testing to ensure that there is no cheating going on.'

The maggot racing will be at Kettlestone Village Hall on Saturday at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7.50 and will include a hot dog and stake money. To book tickets or buy a maggot in advance, call Jackie Boddy on 01328 878012.