A PROFESSIONAL eater visited a Darwen restaurant to complete a massive pizza challenge.

American, Randy Santel, who is on a tour of the UK competing in contests, went to the Amalfi, in Duckworth Street, to take on the metre-long eating marathon.

After choosing toppings of pepperoni and chilli for the four quarters of the pizza, Randy, who has appeared on the popular TV programme Man vs Food, wolfed down the meal in just 20 minutes –12 minutes faster than anybody else.

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Shaz Sani, who runs the restaurant with his brother Keyvan, said: “It is always flattering to have someone come from halfway across the globe and to identify our restaurant as somewhere to set a challenge.

“Randy was a really friendly guy and it was a pleasure to have him.”

Shaz, 30, said the pair were now preparing to open an American-themed restaurant, called Papa’s American Diner, next door to the pizzeria and had invited Randy back to take on another challenge.

He added: “We have challenged him to come back and do our buffalo wings challenge and he has accepted.”

Randy, 28, is from St Louis, in Missouri.

In 2011, after having weight problems most of his life, he decided he wanted to make a living eating and working out, as well as helping people with their weight issues along the way.