Competitors take a tumble in annual cheese rolling race

Thousands of people turned up to watch the annual cheese rolling competition in the English village of Brockworth on Monday.

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The traditional spectacle involves chasing a wheel-shaped Double Gloucester cheese weighing 3.6 kilograms (eights pounds) down Cooper's Hill.

First person to the finish line at the bottom wins the cheese.

The event dates back to the early 1800s and attracts both competitors and spectators from around the world.

See photos from the event:

This year's event was won by local competitor Chris Anderson, who is a specialist in the sport, securing his 17th cheese rolling title.

New competitors can be caught out by the severity of the 183-metre slope, which can send the unwary cartwheeling down the hill, breaking limbs.

The event nearly became a victim of health and safety concerns, and the perils of organising something that is inherently dangerous.

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The official organisers cancelled the competition in 2010, saying the contest had become too popular with spectators but die-hard local enthusiasts continued to hold the races by themselves.

The event is now held annually on an unofficial basis with prominent warnings that participants, and spectators, join in at their own risk.