WWW.CHEDDARVISION.TV It must rank as one of the weirdest spectator sports, having attracted a global audience of more than 1.5 million in less than a year, and it involves, literally, nothing happening.

People across the globe have been logging on to a website in huge numbers to watch a 44lb handmade cheddar cheese from Shepton Mallet slowly mature. Addicted surfers have, over the last nine months, been able to admire the Somerset-based cheese, named Wedginald by its creators. So far, 1,525,548 are registered as having logged on.

Along with a huge picture of the prized cheese, the website’s only other noticeable feature is a chronicle of how long it has been maturing: in days, hours, minutes and seconds. By yesterday, the number of days had reached 268.

Wedginald also appears on MySpace, Facebook and YouTube sites. Another huge influx of interest is expected this week when, for the first time since the project got under way, something actually happens. Viewers will be able to see Wedginald undergo a nine-month grading test.

At the end of the year the matured cheese, valued at around £400, will be auctioned for charity.