Road closures as Gawthorpe's World Coal Carrying Championships takes place

The annual race, in which men and women carry sacks of coal uphill for three quarters of a mile, will take place on April 6 from outside the Royal Oak pub on Owl Lane, Ossett.

A number of temporary road closures will be in place while the race takes place.

• The end of Swithenbank Street and High Street near the Maypole Green is closed off from 10am to 3.45pm
• The bottom of Leeds Road below Hope Church near the junction with Pickering Lane is closed between the same times (except for during each race when it is opened to let runners through and race vehicles
• Owl Lane is closed at the junction of Leeds Road where it turns in to Gawthorpe during the adults races between around 11am and 3pm until all runners and vehicles have passed
• The big roundabout at the end of the A638 dual carriageway will be closed intermittently during races at the exit onto Owl Lane and will be reopened when all runners have turned into Gawthorpe at the junction with Leeds Road
• Pickering Lane and Cross Street is the route in and out of Gawthorpe and is only closed during each race until all runners and race vehicles have passed.

To qualify for completion of the race, the sack must be dropped on the Village Green where the traditional Maypole is situated in the centre of the village.

The children’s fun runs start at 10am-11am.

Adult race times are: Men’s Veteran first race starts at 11.15am; Men’s Veteran second race at 11.45am; Women’s Veteran race at 12.15pm; Women’s Open first race at 12.45pm; Women’s Open second race at 1.15pm; Men’s Open first race at 1.45pm; Men’s Open second race at 2.15pm; Men’s Open third race at 2.45pm.

The event is recognised by Guinness World Records, with the current male world record holder achieving a time of four minutes and six seconds, and the female record holder achieving four minutes and 25 seconds.