IT WAS the sort of charity challenge foodies love to get their teeth into.

In a contest guaranteed to satisfy the heartiest of appetites, four two-man teams were each given the task of munching their way through a 6ft sandwich.

The competition was staged by the Eastleigh branch of Subway, which erected a marquee in the street.

Spectators watched in disbelief as the monster sandwiches were taken out of their boxes and placed in front of the competitors.

Five teams were due to take part in “Man V Sub” but one dropped out, sparking an unsuccessful search for a last-minute replacement.

Contestants were given an hour to munch their way through the sandwiches but by the time the event ended most had either given up or had virtually ground to a halt.

Even the eventual winners, businessman Mark Long, 52, and builder Phil Groves, 33, started to feel a little down in the mouth.

As the competition drew to a close Mark, managing director of The Banner Warehouse, said: “I am stuffed. It actually hurts when I breath in.”

Mark and Phil were awarded the trophy after eating more than any other team, devouring all but 19in of their sandwich.

Phil said: “The first 20 minutes were all right - it just like eating dinner - but after that it was quite painful. Funnily enough I’ve been on a diet and have lost three stone.”

The contest raised £630 for the family of a seriously ill little girl.

Diagnosed with a brain tumour on her first birthday, two-year-old Elora Jones is now paralysed down one side of her body, cannot swallow and needs 24 hour care from her parents.

But the Aldershot toddler is already learning sign language.

Dad Fred said: “It has been very difficult. At the moment we have five nights’ care but for the other two nights we need to be with her. So it means I can’t work.”