Around 7,000 people turn out for Ashbourne's first ever soap box race

Around 7,000 people turn out for Ashbourne's first ever soap box race.

60 teams took part, racing their own creations down a 400m track through the town in pursuit of the fastest time.

The route saw racers fly down Union Street, reaching speeds of up to 30mph, before negotiating the bend onto Market Place, going down another hill and turning the wrong way onto St John Street.

One of the riders, Keith Tuckley spent 300 hours recreating the car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The inaugural 2019 Ashbourne Soap Box Race is the brainchild of a group of 16 local adrenaline junkies who met on a monthly basis since last year to ensure that the event went ahead.

Winners weren't just based on times but points for fancy dress and originality were among the criteria for those who made the top of the leaderboards.