AS doorsteps go, it is an 8,000 calorie monster of a sandwich, but a slim diner managed to devour it – even though more than 100 others had failed.

James Brettell, 26, from Hadleigh, is the first person to conquer the Gigantwich with almost ten minutes to spare of the allotted 45 minutes given for diners to complete the mammoth eating challenge at Mangetout, in Chichester Road, Southend.

The beat 116 failed challengers, including a UK strongman, by finishing the sandwich, which contains more than three times the daily recommended allowance of calories for an average man.

James said: “I saw a picture of the sandwich on Facebook and it was the size of a baby.

“I just thought ‘I’ve got to get me some of this’. I’ve always been pretty trim, but recently I’ve been training hard at the gymand only eating one or two big meals in the evenings. I was still surprised I managed to eat it all – my mates can’t believe it.”

The gut-busting sandwich contains sausage, bacon, ham, beef, turkey, lamb, steak burger, pulled barbecue pork, hash browns, various cheeses, stuffing, a cheese omelette, tomatoes, cucumber, salad, mayo, barbecue sauce, mustard and onion rings.

The fillings are sandwiched between six thick slices of bread, with chips and coleslawon the side.

It weighs almost half-a-stone and is free, but costs diners £17.95 if not consumed within the time limit.

James managed the final few mouthfuls accompanied by the Eye of the Tiger song. He said: “By the end, it gets quite hard to stomach each mouthful without feeling sick.

“I think the owner could see I was flagging, so he started playing Eye of the Tiger through the restaurant speakers to keep me going. It really did the trick.”

James won a special Gigantwich T-shirt and pocketed £116, consisting of £1 contributions from each person who failed their attempt.