A HUDDERSFIELD policeman is the World Coal Carrying Champion - but may now call time on his coal- carrying career.

Superfit Insp Phil Ounsley, 37, carried a 50-kilogram bag of coal 1,000 metres uphill from The Royal Oak pub in Gawthorpe to the village green maypole in 4min 42sec.

Phil, who is based at Huddersfield Police Station, beat off 27 competitors to clinch the title which has been won by runners from Huddersfield before.

But Phil, who also won the Scottish coal Carrying title last year in Kelty, Fife, says he could be retiring.

Phil, from Dewsbury, picked up his trophy from Holme Valley councillor and eight times coal carrying champion Terry Lyons.

Over the years Phil has raised money from a sponsored row across Lake Windermere for The Elizabeth Foundation in Bradford, which helps deaf children.

Insp Ounsley said: "I'm very, very tired. Every year I say never again. Now I've won it I may not come back.

"I've won Scotland and England and there's nothing else to win so I think I might retire while I'm on top."

Also from Huddersfield was 50-year-old Clive Fray who finished fifth and certainly has no plans to retire.

Mr Fray, a prison gatekeeper from Linthwaite, said: "This is my best position, but I could have done better.

"Next year the coals are definitely coming to Huddersfield. I'm going for first place."

Wrapping up the women's title in 5min 5sec was 25-year-old journalist and three times champion Ruth Clegg.

Miss Clegg, originally from Hanging Heaton and now living in Liverpool, said: "I was going to retire this year because I couldn't cope with the pressure, but I might do it again next year. I quite enjoyed it. I'm used to the pain!"

The coal carrying championship was established in 1963 when coal merchant Reggie Sedgewick and the president of the area's maypole committee, Amos Clapham, were challenged to a race by local man Lewis Hartley, who wanted to prove he was fitter than them.