Smurfs, superheroes and scarecrows were among hundreds of competitors taking on the challenge of Oxenhope’s annual straw race.

A total of 500 runners and walkers battled it out to lug 20kg bales of hay through the village streets during yesterday’s contest which is reckoned to have raised more than £14,000 for local charities.

Men, women and children wore eye-catching fancy dress and villagers lined the streets to cheer them on during the two and a half mile race, which involved the adult teams stopping off in five pubs along the route for a pint of beer in each.

Judith Maples, one of the organisers, was at the finishing line at the Dog and Gun pub.

She said: “It has been absolutely brilliant. They have been dressed as anything and everything; the Blues Brothers, cave men, strange orange traffic cones!

“It has been a great atmosphere and it has been quite humbling to see the amount of effort that everybody has put in. It is great to see them all coming through the finish laughing, smiling and out of breath.”

The event was started by two men who made a bet about racing from one pub to the next carrying a bale of straw.

It has £300,000 to date, with more than £14,000 from this year’s race expected to be added to that total.

Thousands of people were able to enjoy a Spitfire fly-past, falconry display and see an Olympic torch carried by former show jumper Harvey Smith at Eldwick Gala on Saturday.

Mr Smith, who lives in High Eldwick, was chosen as a torchbearer at York Racecourse during the visit to Yorkshire of the Olympic flame relay.

About 2,000 people who attended the gala on Saturday were also able to enjoy the gala parade, led by the Phoenix New Orleans Jazz Band, while some of the more active took part in the Eldwick Fell Race.

President Alan Mirfield said even the intermittent rain could not damage spirits.

He said: “Of course, with the showers we have got the village hall as well, so people can make a dash inside and we have also got the church and Sunday School, so there are indoor facilities.

“It’s been wonderful. Even when we have bad days the crowds still come and they can all enjoy themselves – so it’s been excellent.”

Thousands of people turned out to Bradford’s Sky Ride which also took place yesterday.

An estimated 7,000 cyclists spanning the generations and of all abilities took to traffic free streets from Bradford’s City Park to Lister Park.

British Cycling recreation officer Dan Goodey said people this year had enjoyed the flatter route.

He said: “We are delighted with the turnout. It’s really been an event for all ages and all abilities.”

Mr Goodey said the event had seen cyclists on racing bikes right through to toddlers on stabilisers, with people enjoying the family festival atmospheres in both parks.

He said: “It raises awareness, it makes it easy for people to get back out on their bikes, so we are hoping that an event like today will inspire cycling to continue cycling and with everybody excited in cycling, with the Tour de France and the inspiration of the Olympic Games, we are hoping that this will get people on their bikes and keep them on their bikes.”