THE weird and wonderful event which sees teams of beer lovers charge through the streets of Bampton in homemade chariots returns this month.

The Bampton Shirt Race – which sees competitors push each other around in prams, stopping only for beer – will have its 66th outing on Saturday, May 26.

Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets to watch West Oxfordshire’s very own wacky races, with all of the funds raised on the day going to the elderly in the community.

Don Rouse is the race coordinator for the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing (Spajers), the charity behind the race.

He said: "Everything is going very well – the only mystery at this stage is what vehicle I’m going to be following the races in.

“Previously I’ve had a Russian motorbike and sidecar with a reverse gear; the last few times I’ve been in a trailer towed by a quad bike like a lamb or a pig.

“I don’t know what it’s going to be this time. I could be on the back of a tandem.”

The 80-year-old said he was excited to see the ‘unbelievable’ chariots and costumes produced by people in the village.

The event requires teams of two to dress in nightshirts and push each other around the village in a pram, stopping at four pubs and four other spots to swig half a pint along the way.

Adults enjoy beer while racers under 18 get orange juice.

‘Chariots’ with teams of three or more compete at the same time as the teams of two to add to the fun and chaos.

There are three separate races divided by age category.

There is also a fancy dress parade which last year brought the Flintstones, Roman centurions and a corpse bride out into the centre of the village.

Winners enjoy the honour of being named shirt race champions for a whole year – with adult winners also taking home eight cans of beer.

Those wanting to take part in the race or the fancy dress parade can head to High Street (with a pram, if competing in the race) at 6.45pm on the day. The first race can get under way after the 7.10pm bus passes through the village.

It is free to take part, with money raised from collections.

The Spajers, which has also been supported by Bampton's mummers play, pays for Christmas treats and day trips for elderly villagers.