Dozens of daredevils risked life and limb as they chased a giant cheese rolling down a steep slope as part of a bizarre traditional contest

The cheese rolling competition held every year on Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, involves competitors hurling themselves 200 metres down a 1 in 2 hill in pursuit of the cheese

The winner of the chase gets to keep the prize of a seven to eight pound Double Gloucester cheese

More than 4,000 spectators flocked to the odd event which has been celebrated for centuries and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring

Organisers praised this year's event as one of the safest ever with St John's Ambulance reporting three people taken to hospital with suspected fractured limbs

Teenager Chris Anderson, a window fitter from Brockworth, suffered a sprained ankle as he claimed first prize in one of the four races
Chris, 17, was taken to hospital with his prize cheese clasped to his chest
As he left on a stretcher he said: "The pain was worth it, I went over on my ankle right at the top of the hill. This cheese is going straight in a cupboard when I get home. It's definitely not for eating"

Kiwi Dione Carter won the woman's event for the second year running
Dione, a nanny from Auckland, New Zealand tumbled headfirst over the finishing line to claim her prize
The 25-year-old wiped blood from her knees and arms several minutes after completing the race
She said: "This was a lot tougher than last year. I had a few nasty tumbles. It just seems sheer luck if you win but despite how it looks it is great fun"

Jason Crowther, 23, from Pembrokeshire and Aaron Walden, 18, from Gloucester won the other two races

Three people have been hurt chasing a giant cheese down a steep slope in Gloucestershire

The annual event on Cooper's Hill involves competitors hurling themselves 200 metres down the steep hill

The winner, window fitter Chris Anderson, received his 9lb Double Gloucester as he was taken away on a stretcher with a sprained ankle

Organisers said two other people were taken to hospital and may have suffered spinal injuries

Chris, 17, from nearby Brockworth, said: "The pain was worth it. I went over on my ankle right at the top of the hill
This cheese is going straight in a cupboard when I get home. It's definitely not for eating"

New Zealander Dione Carter won the woman's event for the second year running
"This was a lot tougher than last year. I had a few nasty tumbles
It just seems sheer luck if you win but despite how it looks it is great fun"

Jason Crowther, 23, from Pembrokeshire and Aaron Walden, 18, from Gloucester won the other two races

Fewer casualties

St John's Ambulance were on hand to give medical assistance during the two hour event
A team from Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters (Saraid) were also at Cooper's Hill in the event any casualties needed rescuing from the steep hill

Organiser Richard Jefferies said: "It was a very good day and went very smoothly. There were a lot less casualties than normal
It is a good part of the local heritage and a tradition we would like to keep going"

Cheese chasers in action

Hundreds attended the annual cheese rolling event in Gloucestershire
- an event thought to date back more than 200 years

Competitors chase a Double Gloucester down the steep Cooper's Hill,
a 200 metre race fraught with danger

The first person to grab the cheese at the bottom of the hill wins it

Organisers say this year's race was the safest yet
Both St John's Ambulance and a mountain rescue team were on hand to offer assistance

Three people suffered injuries and were taken to hospital,
two are thought to have suffered spinal injuries

The female event was won by Dione Carter for the second year running

Chris Anderson, who won the second race, was glad to be able to take the cheese home
- despite picking up an injury during the chase

One of the winners, Jason Crowther, 23, a farmer from Wales, said he was "chuffed" to have won

!!! - ??? - !!!