THOUSANDS lined the streets of Great Dunmow on Sunday for a high-octane racing event filled with quirky, makeshift cars and several enthralling crashes.

The Great Dunmow Soapbox race, now in its second year, attracted a crowd of more than 15,000 people, making it the biggest event the town has ever seen and the UK’s second largest soapbox event.

The trailblazing event, which raised more than £40,000 for Mind in West Essex and St Clare Hospice, saw fearless racers speedily slalom around a weaving course filled with tricky obstacles.

Lead organiser Jordan Bright, 23, said: “I don’t think it could have gone much better and the atmosphere was incredible.

“Everyone really enjoyed themselves and there were some really brilliant crashes and there was one member that was taken to hospital with whiplash, but there were no serious injuries.

“Thank you to all the sponsors and everyone in the community that supported the event and made it happen. Thousands of people will now have a better life as a result of the volunteers.”