Auderghem hosts Christmas tree-throwing championships

The crowds were out in Auderghem on Saturday for what is claimed to be Belgium's only Christmas-tree throwing competition.

The contest, now in its sixth year, was founded by the owner of a local flower shop, who was faced with a surplus of unsold trees.

"This is a very serious sporting event," organiser Samuel Serck told RTL. "We don't take into account the throwing style or method. Only the distance counts."

Every year, Place Pinoy, near Hermann-Debroux, is closed to traffic as about 350 participants try their luck.

The competition is split into three categories - men, women and children - and the best result ever achieved is 10.77 metres.