Daredevils defy health and safety to stage unofficial Double Gloucester race

Rebel cheese rollers defied the weather today to take part in a traditional race down a steep hill to catch a 8lb Double Gloucester.

Hardcore thrill seekers staged their own unofficial event after the world-famous Cheese Rolling was cancelled for a second year running.

The race had been advertised on social networking sites, with a page set up on Facebook and people posting messages on Twitter.

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Competitive: Contestants race after the cheese on Coopers Hill, Gloucestershire

There was a large police presence at entrances to Cooper's Hill, at Brockworth, near Gloucester, but the event went ahead.

The bizarre annual event attracts participants, spectators and media from across the world.

Several hundred spectators braved the fog and rain to watch around a dozen daredevils pursue the Double Gloucester 200 yards down the steep - 1:2 gradient - slope.

Competitors slip, somersault and tumble their way to the bottom in spectacular fashion during the bone-crunching races - and the first person to grab the cheese wins.

This year champion local cheese roller Chris Anderson, 23, won the three adult male races while 14-year-old Jo Guest, from Wolverhampton, came out on top in the women's race.

After winning the first race, Mr Anderson, from Brockworth, Gloucester, said: 'That's the biggest fall I've ever had, ever.

'I got far too much speed up and had a big fall.'

Mr Anderson recovered from his tumble to win the further two adult men races and walk away with three Double Gloucester cheeses.

Asked how he was feeling, Mr Anderson, who is planning to join the Army and might not be back next year to defend his crown, said: 'Amazing, brilliant. First time I've won all three.

'I'm knackered now and cold and wet.

'The first was the worst, I took a real tumble on the first race. I had a £5 bet to win all three.'

Mr Anderson, who is a civilian MoD worker, said that this year's unofficial event passed off without any injuries.

'It's better with the official because you have got ambulance cover, but this is what it is all about, you have got all the locals here,' he said.

'It's a Brockworth tradition and it's keeping it going for the people of Brockworth.

'I had to win, it's in my blood.'

The unusual event has been celebrated for centuries and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.

The last time cheese rolling was staged in 2009 more than 15,000 people turned up as spectators.

The venue was designed to cope with just 5,000, so last year's event was called off over health and safety and traffic congestion fears.

But this year a plan was hatched to move the date of the racing to June and to make it a two-day festival.

Those plans were scrapped - meaning it was cancelled for the second year running - over the 'threats and abuse' after it was revealed that people would be charged up to £20 to attend.

The group behind the event at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire said they had been abused by angry cheese runners who accuse them of profiteering.

The event, usually held in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, on the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May, is known for commonly causing injuries to those taking part, with sprains and broken bones common.

In 2009, the injury toll of 18 was described as 'low' by St John Ambulance. Ten of the wounded were spectators.

Three cheese-chasers were taken to hospital for treatment - two with suspected spinal injuries and one with a dislocated shoulder. The rest had cuts and bruises.

Six people fainted just watching the event and four other spectators suffered minor injuries. One of those had fallen out of a tree and was taken slowly down the 100ft slope on a spinal board.

Watch video of the event: