A PIE club for men has been set up and secured almost £100,000 worth of funding.

The Newcastle-based social enterprise, Food Nation, got the cash from the Movember Foundation and has launched a pilot scheme to bring men together through a shared love of pies to taste, cook and eat.

It is hoped the initiative, at George Street Social in Newcastle, will combat male social isolation and physical and mental health problems, and could be rolled out internationally.

Co-ordinator Colin Mallen said: “A pie club may seem odd given the bad press they receive for being unhealthy, but at the end of the day, who doesn’t love a hearty and comforting pie?”