THE BURGER KING IS DEAD

A BURGER eating contest held to mark the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death ended in tragedy – when a midget King of Rock ‘ n’ Roll impersonator died after choking on a bap!

Tiny Barry Preston had travelled from his home in Biddulph, Staffs, to take part in last Wednesday’s memorial gorge- a- thon in Memphis, Tennessee – close to Elvis’s Graceland home.

The four- foot cabaret act – who has thrilled thousands over the years with his mini- Elvis tribute LITTLE BELTER: Barry loved burgers as much as the real Elvis LOOKED like he did TIME FOR A GOBBLE! Rivals tuck into burgers – was odds- on to gobble up the winner’s trophy, having triumphed in several previous burger- eating contests.

But after swallowing FIVE squirrel and possum burgers in just one minute, 54- year- old Barry stalled on the sixth and began to choke.

Stewards raced in to help, but an awkward- shaped bread lump had lodged in his windpipe and he quickly choked to death.

As a mark of respect, the contest was called off.

Linus Foyer, organiser of the Elvis 40th Eat- A- Thon, sobbed last night: “Everyone in the world of Elvis impersonation and competitive eating knew the name Barry Preston. He may have been a goddamned Limey but he had the manners of a pure southern gentleman, yessir.

“The moment I saw him turn blue, I thought to myself ‘ Linus, we ain’t never going to hear Barry sing The Wonder of You ever again’.”

The death has reignited the controversy over competitive eating in Tennessee.

Last year the state legislature moved to impose strict new health and safety rules for such events after seven choking deaths in the past three years.

But civil rights groups took the state to the Supreme Court and the laws were struck down as unconstitutional.

Barry’s wife Glenda will travel to Memphis to bring Barry’s tiny body home to Biddulph, where a minute’s silence will be observed on Tuesday at noon.