Burley-in-Wharfedale will mount a record-breaking attempt to create the world's largest pudding.

Far from being a plum duff of a gag, the village millennium committee is deadly serious about producing a five tonne monster of a dessert.

What began as a light-hearted joke has now become deadly serious, with the chance to give the village world-wide acclaim and fame.

The bid to shatter the current world record (which stands at 3.28 tonnes) will take place in July 2000.

Millennium committee member, Tom Sumner, said the pudding project would form part of a Burley Festival, to be held in the first week of July 2000.

The pudding project will go ahead on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9 to double the opportunity for attendance and thereby sales, also to reduce the chances of a washout.

The millennium committee and Burley Community Council are thinking big in every way possible.

Mr Sumner said: "Richard Branson keeps trying to make record attempts but keeps failing.

"He should come and support a record breaking attempt which will prove a winner."

The pudding idea comes from an old village tradition stretching back hundreds of years.

Until 1787, a large plum-type pudding (the Burley Pudding) was cooked in the village every seven years.

Thirty stones of flour would be mixed with a similar amount of fruit, several hundred eggs, salt, water, sugar and brandy.

However, Mr Sumner and his colleagues will need a space slightly larger than the dam between the Malt Shovel and the Corn Mill to produce a 21st century pud.

Environmental Health officers are also likely to frown on dividing up the steamed pudding with hay spades, as was the case in 1787.

The Guinness Book of Records office has provided a list of 15 ingredients, 10 of which must be included.

It must be in the shape of a traditional Christmas pudding and be mixed in one container and steamed in one place.

Unfortunately, the original Burley Pudding recipe is nowhere to be found, so the pudding makers will have to improvise.

It must be fit for human consumption, be overseen and checked by the health authorities, photographed, documented and measured. The weight must also be checked.

Although there is no guarantee of Guinness success, Mr Sumner said: "The indications are, however, that because of the horrendous controls now in place covering the preparation of food, we could well be the only village/organisation rash enough to try."

"To achieve our ambition we are going to need an awful lot of help; from design engineers for the actual vessel to be used; from the media, utility providers and catering establishments," said Mr Sumner.

Sponsorship is crucial. There is no way the Community Council can afford the thousands of pounds needed for the attempt.

"Nearer the time we shall be looking for a small army of volunteer workers. The priority at the moment is to recruit specialised (voluntary) professionals to fill the variety of key roles that have been identified (see panel)," said Mr Sumner.

A selection panel has been formed and a leaflet drop will be going out to all households shortly, signalling the official launch of the project, as well as requesting assistance.

A village millennium/pudding web site is currently being created.

All profits from the Burley Pudding world record attempt will be used by Burley Community Council for the benefit of the village.

THE following voluntary (specialised) positions will need filling if the Burley Pudding project is to be successful:

Project manager - to be in overall control of the project, events organiser - planning and co-ordination, including the Burley Festival, accountant - control funds, report to the millennium committee on situation, funds manager - sponsorship, donations, fees.

Publicity manager - promote the event, liaise with the media, project Catering manager - to control cooking of pudding, provisions manager - to obtain ingredients for pudding, security manager - policing, cash safety, equipment, utilities manager - organise electric, gas, telephones and lighting, locations manager - arrange tentage, halls, fields etc.

Health and safety - work in conjunction with the authorities, car park manager - arrange sites, liaise with police, Policing Organiser - signage, diversions, road closures.

Medical officer - arrange first aid posts, lost children, personnel manager - recruit voluntary workers, Design Engineer - specify/research vessel specifications, waste disposal manager - arrange bins, emptying etc, marketing manager - maximise on profit/sales potential, Official photographer - to record all stages, including the lead up.

If you feel you fit the bill or just want to help Burley-in-Wharfedale's millennium celebrations go with a bang, contact Mr Sumner on 01943 862940.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.