Hundreds watch teams take part in one of the best Oxenhope straw races for years

The annual Oxenhope Straw Race didn’t disappoint as racers in fancy dress pounded the streets of the village to raise money for charity.

The aim of the well-established quirky event is for participants, divided into teams of two, to carry a bale of straw around several pubs in the village and down a drink at each location.

The crowds which flocked to the villages were treated to a range of imaginative, and sometimes rather daring, fancy dress costumes.

Men dressed in Borat-style ‘mankinis’, a bikini designed for men. Some had bizarre blue-painted heads and they were one of the most talked about aspects of the race, although cheers were also given for Fred Flintstone, Predator and several groups of cops and robbers.

Jane Barrett, secretary of the Oxenhope Straw Race Committee, completed the race as part of a group of rock ‘n’ roll girls and teddy boys.

She said: “We had 258 teams this year. It is the biggest number of racers in recent years.

“It was very good. We had some really well thought-out costumes. The fancy dress this year was fabulous but there were two guys who did it as mountaineers and they were superb. But the highlight for me is to see four months of real hard work pay off with all those people enjoying themselves.”

Mrs Barrett said the winners of the race were due to be announced today.

Roads were closed to traffic while villagers and visitors lined the streets yesterday, enjoying the bright weather and the spectacle of the race.

Those stationed by the Bay Horse Inn were treated to lively performances from a band as the creatively dressed characters stopped to collect their pints.

The 2.5 mile race, which began at the Waggon and Horses pub, in Hebden Bridge Road, and finished at the Dog and Gun, in Leeming, has raised several hundred thousand pounds.

Money raised through the event will be distributed to the Manorlands hospice, in Oxenhope, and a host of other good causes.