DAREDEVILS hurtled down one of York’s steepest hills in self-built go karts today (Monday, August 27) to compete in the third annual Micklegate Run Soapbox Challenge.

Tens of thousands of Bank Holiday tourists and residents lined the historic street to watch the seven hour spectacle, which involved 43 go kart teams trying to become the fastest to complete the route - with each one allowed two attempts.

The karts were launched one by one down a ramp at the top end of Micklegate and then gathered speed down a cobbled hilly section of street, lined with hay bales, before shooting through the air off a short section of ramp.

Several other city centre streets, including George Hudson Street, Low Ousegate and Nessgate, and also Ouse Bridge, were closed to traffic for the day, with fairground rides and food stalls set up on the bridge.

Among the teams taking part in the challenge was Walmgate Ale House, raising funds for the Brain Tumour Charity in memory of assistant manager Jon Moss, who died from the cancer earlier this year, aged 39.

Fundraising started in the spring with a beer being named after him and managers Mike Edmondson and Ellie Gibson took part yesterday in a Jon’s Blonde go kart, featuring giant wooden models of the bottled beer on each side of the vehicle.

Another team was entered by SASH, the York charity that provides accommodation and support to homeless young people, riding in a coffin-shaped kart built by Dylan Thomas of Poetry in Motion Cycles and hoping to raise £1,850, enough to pay for 100 nights of emergency accommodation.

Others taking part included York BID street rangers, raising money for York Rescue Boat, the Ambulance Wish Foundation, which grants terminally ill patients’ final wishes, the Friends of Scarcroft School, The Grand Hotel, York Minster, and Nestlé staff, riding a 'KitKart.

SASH won the trophy for fastest team, while York Maze won one for 'Joker of the Day,' and the Friends of Scarcroft School won the sponsor's choice.