A cheese rolling competitor has been airlifted to hospital after being injured during the event. 

Dozens of hardy racers hurtled down Cooper's Hill in Gloucester as part of the renowned bank holiday tradition - which began as a small local event now garners worldwide media attention.

However, the second men's race had to be delayed after a man was injured in the first before being taken to hospital.

Photos showed a man being carried away from the event on a stretcher, while an air ambulance was seen landing in a nearby field. 

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

This year's event prompted a safety warning from the local ambulance, police and fire services, who warned they could be overwhelmed if there was a 'mass casualty incident'. 

But it went ahead as planned, with Tom Kopke, a 23-year-old YouTuber from Munich, retaining the title he won last year.

Luke Briggs won one of the men's contests dressed in a Superman costume - while first-time racer Ava Sender Logan, 20, from London, was triumphant in the first women's event before admitting she did not even like cheese.

She told of not remembering most of her downhill tumble, but said of the occasion: 'It's such a cool tradition.'

The event challenges people to pursue a 3kg Double Gloucester cheese rolling down the steep 200 yard hill, though has also prompted safety warnings in recent years.

Hundreds of people have been gathering at Cooper's Hill to watch the occasion that is thought to have its roots in a pagan festival celebrating the return of spring.

Competitors chase the cheese down the 180m-high hill, with many tripping and tumbling on their way - only to pick themselves up and resume the pursuit. 

The first runners to catch the cheese, which can reach speeds of up to 70mph, are declared victors in various races across the event that dates back to the 1800s.

But competing is not without its risks - in 1993, 15 people were injured in the racing, four of them seriously hurt, and officials have ramped up warnings in recent years. 

In 2009 and 2011 the race was cancelled over safety concerns but the event has continued unofficially, though the 2020 and 2021 versions were called off as a result of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions before a return in June 2022.

Two late cheese rolling champions are being remembered at this year's event with races held in their memory.

The first men's race was declared to be held in memory of Izzy John, who died in 2015, with the second nodding to Steve Brain, who died in 2018 - after the two men, described as 'fearless', won more than 30 cheeses between them.

Today's event comes just weeks after it was revealed the tradition could be given an official honour by being added to a UK heritage list.

The Government is asking the public to nominate their favourite traditions that best reflect Britain, to be recorded in a new Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK.

Other traditions in the same county such as surfing the Severn Bore and Woolsack Races in Tetbury have also been touted as potential contenders for the list, with heritage minister Baroness Twycross saying last month: 'The UK is rich with wonderful traditions.'

Last year's first Cheese Rolling men's race at Cooper's Hill was won by Tom Kopke from Germany, who told afterwards how he was 'buzzing' - and vowed to return in 2025 to defend his title, which he has now successfully done.

Mr Kopke, from Munich, who runs his own YouTube channel, was victorious in the opening men's race today, 12 months on from first taking the title.

After taking an early lead and seeing the win through, he told the BBC: 'I've never felt better in my life.

'This year I just gave it everything I had - I just dashed forward and tried to get the win, and then I just blacked out.'

Mr Kopke, 23, added: 'It was crazy. This year was different. Last year the hill was muddy and this year it was dry and dangerous and people got injured.

"I shut off my brain and went for it. All the people at the top said they were going to steal my title but this is mine.

'I worked for this. I risked my life for this. It's my cheese. Back to back.'

Long-time cheese-maker Rod Smart, who has 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. Local roads have been closed up to two-and-a-half miles around the slope.

The second men's race was won by Luke Preece, from Gloucester, who flew down the hill race dressed in a Superman costume.

He said afterwards: 'I am absolutely buzzed, amazing - the adrenaline. My dad did it. I can't believe it, it's amazing.'

The women's race was won by Ava Sender Logan, 20, who was racing for the Refugee Community Kitchen, which supports displaced people in northern France and homeless people in London and Edinburgh.

The university student from London said: 'This is my first time. I thought it was such a tradition, and I will probably feel it tomorrow. I can't believe it, I can't believe it.

"It felt quite long coming down and then I hit my head. I'm down, that's what matters. I'm fine."

The final men's downhill race was won by Byron Smith, 33, from New Zealand, who had to settle for second place last year.

He said today: 'It feels great, yeah. I did it last year and came second in my heat and I thought I could do it this year and I did.

'I ran as fast as I could and tried to get back up and this year I did.'

Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson from Gloucestershire Police has previously described the event as a 'unique tradition', adding that the force had 'no desire to stop it'.

But officers said they had a duty to tell the public the local Tewkesbury Borough Safety Advisory Group had declared it unsafe, raising concerns about the potential strain on emergency services.

The advisory group is made up of multiple agencies, including emergency services, who work to promote safety and welfare at events.

Members have told of concerns about how officials could respond if there were a major incident, after ambulances struggled to access the site in 2023.

The winner of that year's women's race was knocked unconscious at the finish line and only discovered had won after waking up in a medical tent.

The event attracts competitors from around the world - as well as capturing transatlantic coverage.

One notable report in 2006 in the American National Library of Medicine was headlined: 'Dozens injured as cheese roll goes crackers.'

The article went on to say how 25 people were injured 'at an annual cheese rolling competition in which daredevils chase giant cheese wheels down a steep slope in western England'.

The magazine said: 'Dozens took part in the bizarre event at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, before a crowd of about 3,000 cheering spectators.

'They raced for 200m down the slope after wheel-shaped Double Gloucester cheeses, decorated in a blue and red ribbon.

'Many slipped, somersaulted, and tumbled their way to the bottom during five bone-crunching races over two hours.

'Of the 25 people hurt, 12 were spectators, one of whom was hit by one of the hard, 4kg, dinner plate sized cheeses used in each race, but only two people were taken to hospital for further assessment.'