A weekly newspaper reporter has failed in his bid to poach the coveted title of Russian Egg Roulette world champion.

Neil 'The Durham Destroyer' Graham, from the Grantham Journal, took on and lost to the eggs-isting title holder Opal Uptonbrooker in a face-to-face egg-off.

Based on the usually fatal pistol 'game' of Russian roulette, competitors take it in turns to pick up a hard-boiled egg and smash it into their foreheads.

Except that one of the eggs is uncooked – leaving the loser, quite literally, with egg on their face.

Opal, who owns a pottery shop in Grantham, proved she was no chicken as she took on all-comers to win the crown at this year's World Federation Egg Throwing Championships.

This was the first time Russian Egg Roulette was held as part of the event, held in Swaton near Grantham, with Opal frying the opposition from as far afield as America.

Her eggs-ploits were broadcast on CNN, Five News and French television and she has since been on This Morning with Philip Schofield.

A video of Opal and The Durham Destroyer can be seen on the Grantham Journal's website.

Opal and Neil before their clash of the titans egg-off