Bearded bar maids win wheelbarrow race at Pinner's St George's Day celebrations

Ryan Trimmer, 25, and his brother Jake, 18, came first and looked stunning as Bavarian bar maids. They were representing the Oddfellows pub in Waxwell Lane and managed to down the half-pints as well as drinking the celebratory champagne handed to them by the Mayor of Harrow, Mrinal Choudhury.

Jake, of Cannonbury Avenue, Pinner, said: "My brother has won it for the past two years but this is the first time I have done it.

"The hardest part was drinking the ale at each point. We will hopefully do it again next year."

Damian Stromaine and Ryan West, representing The George IV pub, Marsh Road, came second and another team from the same pub, Lee Sellans and Billy Johnson, came third.

The Punch and Judy show, which was added for the first time, proved very popular and children gathered at the top of the High Street to enjoy it.

One of the organisers, Gordon Williams, spent the week before the event in meetings with Harrow Police and Harrow Council, after the police licensing officer told pub landlords it couldn't go ahead in its usual form because of an alcohol exclusion zone in Harrow which would prevent participants from drinking in the street.

However, Mr Williams said the race followed its traditions and went ahead without a hitch.

Mr Williams said: "It went well on the day but I really feel that the support I got from the police and council was negligible.

"However, the police officers manning the crossings were fantastic and used a very common sense approach. Apart from that, everyone said it was a lovely event. I hope next year we will not have these problems."