Gawthorpe, in West Yorkshire, played host to the World Coal Carrying Championships. The event has been going since 1963 when the unusual event began as a bet between a farmer and a miner in a local pub.

This annual test of endurance sees people racing up to the village maypole whilst carrying sacks of coal on their shoulders.

Men carry sacks weighing 50kg and women carry 20kg across a distance of 1012 metres.

Each year the Championships get's bigger - this year entry numbers were so high that there are now three men’s races.

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