Sheep races had to be cancelled due to soaring temperatures – so people took part instead.

For the first time in its 11-year-history the Frampton Sheep Races, in the village of Frampton on Severn, took place without any sheep because of the heatwave.

Usually the animals wear coloured toy monkeys and leap over low obstacles while spectators bet on which one wins for charity. Due to the heat the decision was taken to withdraw sheep from the event entirely and come up with some new events.

John Ramsden, part of the Frampton Fundraisers committee, said: “Since we don’t have the actual sheep, we’ve come up with a lot of silly races for the humans to try.”