THE WOOLSACK Races in Tetbury will be returning this Bank Holiday Monday with additional races for cyclists.

Organised by the Tetbury Woolsack Team, the annual races will have men, women and children sprinting 200 metres up and down Gumstool Hill hauling woolsacks on their backs.

In addition to the normal races, a new Veloton Woolsack Sprint uphill cycle competition, sponsored by Tetbury's cycle and coffee shop Veloton, will be introduced this year.

The cycle races will begin at 11.30am. Eight men and eight women will be racing up Gumstool Hill with special bikes carrying smaller woolsacks.

This will be followed by the Childrens Woolsack Races at 12.15pm.

After a Grand Auction by the Town Hall, the main Woolsack Races will begin at 2pm with a mens individual race, a womens individual race, a mens team race, a womens team race and a mixed team race.

Men will carry woolsacks weighing 25kg and women 15kg. There will be four people in each team.

There will also be a street market with over 40 stalls this year.

The popular French Market will be returning and the Woolsack funfair will be taking place at the Chipping Car Park.

Organiser Stephen Hirst said: "The new cycle races is just something different for this year's event.

"It will be a free fun family day out, which at the same time supports good causes."

The Woolsack Races are supporting Hope for Tomorrow, Tetbury Gymnastics Club, and the Goods Shed project.