LAST Monday's cheese rolling races on Cooper's Hill was watched by thousands of spectators, eager to witness the annual mayhem first hand.

Rebel cheese rollers have been staging their own unofficial event after health and safety fears caused the official competition to be cancelled in 2010.

The cheese is chased 200 yards down the 1:2 gradient Cooper's Hill at Brockworth.

After a year's hiatus, when police warned against the use of a real cheese, the imitation lightweight foam cheese was replaced with the genuine article.

Long-time cheese-maker Diana Smart and her son Rod, who have produced cheese for the chase for more than 25 years, once again provided the wheels for this year's event.

Four cheeses weighing about 3kg each and three smaller ones, weighing about 1.5kg, are used.

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 official event was cancelled after more than 15,000 people turned up as spectators to watch the 2009 competition.

Since then it has been held unofficially with the police keeping a watchful eye.

The women's race was won by Flo Early, 27, who picked up a Double Gloucester for the third time - after winning in 2008 and 2016 - but also managed to dislocate her shoulder in the process.

Speaking with her right arm in a sling after undergoing medical treatment, Miss Early, from Stroud, Gloucestershire said: "I think I'm still a little bit... surprised.

"The race was fine. I know I fell over quite a lot."