LOVE, laughter, controversy and a lot of meat – this year’s Flitch Trials had it all.

Dunmow’s oldest tradition was a “thundering” success on Saturday as five couples came from far and wide, plus much closer to home, to try their luck and claim the bacon.

The members of the court: Daniel Pitt, Dave Monk, Caroline Bradley and Jeremy Janes; Judge Michael Chapman, in his last trials, and clerk Kevin McHale were in fine form, reducing the audience to fits of laughter throughout the day.

And four of the couples proved their love to the jury of six maidens and six bachelors, in front of hundreds of people, to claim the prize.

Despite the miserable weather which plagued the occasion, town mayor John Davey, who sits on the organising committee, said the feedback he had received was “great” and the turnout was a pleasant surprise.

“None of us expected the morning session to be more than half full,” he said.

“We sold about a quarter of the tickets before the day and yet it was around 85 per cent full due to walk-ins on the day. The afternoon and evening sessions were full up and everyone had a great time.

“All the participants: the jury, counsel, judge and court officers were all in great form; the chairing of the couples and bacon were splendid and the Town Crier Richard Harris kept in good voice to the end.

“To put simply the 2012 Dunmow Flitch Trials were a thundering success.”