Branscombe is reviving a popular village tradition for the first time in 25 years to raise money for charity.

Sidmouth Herald: Ross Willmington at the age of nine won the pram race.Ross Willmington at the age of nine won the pram race. (Image: Archant)

The annual ‘pram race’ will return this September to try to match the success of The Branscombe Baldies who raised £8,000 for Cancer Research UK by shaving their heads at the harvest fair.

Organiser Ross Willmington was inspired to find a big event to beat last year’s total in aid of cancer charity Force.

The chairman of Branscombe Players said: “We were looking for another fundraiser. It wasn’t all that appealing to shave our heads again so we wanted to do something different.

“It’s going to take a bit of beating, but we thought a big event like the pram race could do it.

Sidmouth Herald: old cutting of pram race.old cutting of pram race. (Image: Archant)

“It was usually a very successful event. We should have a good number of entries.”

Buzz is already building for the event after Ross posted on Facebook old cuttings of the event taken from his grandmother Margaret’s scrapbooks – which contained clippings of village life from the past 50 years.

The photos show residents of all ages creating their ‘prams’ to race around the village, completing challenges along the way.

Among them included a triumphant nine-year-old Ross winning the race with Richard Fuell.

Sidmouth Herald: old cutting.old cutting. (Image: Archant)

Ross said: “It was a big village event and quite a big deal and great fun. It’s a big thing when you are nine years old.

“It has been lovely [the reaction]; the harvest fair was a success last year and we want to try and create a fair week and this is at the start of the fair week.”

The race, which has been renamed Branscombe Whacky Races, will start at 6.30pm from the Fountain Head, with competitors set five challenges along the way before crossing the finish line at the Mason Arms.

Entry is £10 per team of two. To sign up for the race on Saturday, September 10, contact Ross on 07813117149.

To donate to Force, visit the online giving page at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiser ProfilePage.action?userUrl=branscombewhackyraces