HUGE crowds gathered along York’s Micklegate on Sunday to cheer on home-made go-carts as they raced down the historic cobbled street.

Forty-two teams took part in the first Micklegate Soapbox Challenge, which looks set to have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities.

The event was organised by Micklegate Business Initiative as part of a major drive to reinvigorate the street - and it certainly felt revitalised, as at least 10,000 people are thought to have lined up behind barriers and hay bales to watch the races.

The carts -which had themes ranging from a market stall to an RAF jet -set off down a four metre ramp to gather some speed and then went through a chicane before again speeding up as they descended the cobbled hill. Then they scaled another smaller ramp - briefly taking off - before heading for the finishing line near the junction with Skeldergate.

The race was started by the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Dave Taylor, who said: “It’s fantastic for Micklegate and it’s fantastic for the charities.”

MBI chair Johnny Hayes said the overall winner was Focus Fireplaces, which completed the course in 40 seconds or less.

He said no one came a cropper in the race, although not all the go-carts were able to finish the course.

Alex Smith, of the Punchbowl pub, only lasted a couple of seconds, as wheels on his cart came off on reaching the bottom of the launch ramp.

Cllr Hayes said he could not believe the success of the event, which was set to take place again next year.

“I thought it would be popular but had no idea it would be that popular, given the appalling weather forecast,” he said.

He hoped there would be long-term benefits for businesses in the street, as people who might rarely venture to Micklegate normally liked what they saw and returned.