Duxford hosted its fourth annual Soapbox Derby at the weekend with home-made designs racing through the village.

The race, on Sunday, September 4, saw entrants racing along a route that started at The John Barleycorn pub, with the finishing line at The Plough.

Roads were closed for supportive villagers to gather at the finish, and line the streets along the route.

Robin Andrews, a spectator, said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant fun. It was our first time here actually, and it’s great that the whole village is out.”

At The Plough, hundreds of visitors enjoyed live music from headlining act The Jar Family, and other brilliant performances from Mark and Edward Couzins, Dale Taylor and Darren Bardoe.

Winners of the adult race, Karam Bhinder and Camron Willis-Wright, ran as ‘The Huntsmen’, for the Huntsman manufacturer in Duxford, and reached the finish long before other competitors.

It was the second year that a team from the Huntsman has won the Derby, and winner Karam Bhinder said: “We actually re-used the cart from last year, and added brakes to it.

“One of our technicians, Johnny Greenhill, made the whole thing.

“It was a really enjoyable race.”

The soapbox constructions included a variety of designs and this year’s races included more cart entrants than any previous derby, with 11 entrants each for adult and children categories.

Some of the more distinctive soapbox designs in the adult race included one made from a bath, and another from a wheelchair.

Prizes were awarded across various categories, including best fancy dress won by ‘Doris and Ethel’ (Liam Camp and James Reed) dressed as old ladies, for the adults. The Power Rangers (Alberto Arcidiacono and Oliver McMahon) were the children’s winners.

The winners in the children’s four to seven age category were The Viscious Vikings (Thomas and Harriet Sale), and in the 8-11 age group it was ‘Double Trouble’ (Ewan and Rory Percival) who won. There was also a prize for best constructed soapbox, for which The Dukes of Hinxton (Daniel Jones and Sarah Crocker) won a silver plate.

Peter Stribling, chairman of the organising committee, said: “Our fourth year running has been fantastic.

“Last year we raised £11,000, and this year we think it will definitely be in excess of £5,000. The event is great for getting the village engaged.”

He added all the local pubs had been incredibly supportive, especially in helping to raise money for Cancer Research UK.