Brave volunteers with strong stomachs put their taste buds to the test by tackling some weird and wonderful exotic delicacies.

The first ever Extreme Food Challenge was organised by the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival.

Festival director Nick Mosley said: “Our challenge saw 12 participants – or victims as we like to call them – devour 12 courses of bizarre and unusual food from across the globe.

“Ten of them managed every single course, including a bizarre white fungus, a birds nest soft drink, deep fried lambs testicles and a very pungent durian fruit.

“The highlight of the menu was courtesy of the Icelandic ambassador – putrified shark meat – a speciality in Iceland but definitely an acquired taste.”

The festival, which launched on Thursday, has already attracted around 37,000 visitors to various events including the Big Sussex Market, Live Food Show and Children’s Food Festival in its first four days.

The fun continued today with the Rockinghorse Easter Egg Hunt in Royal Pavilion Gardens, a free Brighton Restaurant Trail across North Laine and The Lanes and the Brighton Fish Festival with a live food kitchen in Bartholomew Square.