Care home residents compete in cheese rolling event

Cirencester mayor Sarah Orr (L) and High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, Julie Kent MBE (R), were among those at the event

Care home residents participated in their own version of the famous Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling event.

Instead of chasing a 7lb (3kg) Double Gloucester cheese wheel down the steep Coopers Hill in Brockworth, competitors at Aura Care Living's Stratton Court in Cirencester rolled mini Babybel cheeses down a ramp.

Teams of five consisting of residents, their families and members of the public joined in with the various heats, while a panel of judges scored their speed, skill and cheese rolling technique.

"It was very surreal when I was judging it… watching people roll Babybel cheeses down a makeshift hill," said care home sales director, Peter Lloyd.

He said his colleagues and the residents thought he was "mad" when he suggested the idea.

"The cheese rolling is one of those crazy, wacky things," he said.

About 160 people of all ages watched the "nail-biting" and "epic" competition, Mr Lloyd said.

Care home manager Jared Mein (L) awarded Steve Mackay (R) a Double Gloucester wheel after he was crowned overall winner of the event

Jared Mein, manager of the care home, said: "Cheese rolling and care homes don't really go hand in hand... it was really different, but it was fantastic and the turnout was great."

Steve Mackay was crowned the overall winner of the event after progressing through several rounds.

Mr Mein presented him with a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese for his efforts and said he was "over the moon" to win.