One village's crazy racers took to the streets for the annual charity dash. But there was no mean machine in sight as competitors sprinted for the finish line on Boxing Day. Reporter Lynn Eccles and out who was crowned the winner.

Dracula and his bride raced ahead leaving the three blind mice, Father Christmas and his elves trailing in their wake as they streaked to the finish line.

The annual East Hoathly and Halland pram race was well attended, although this year's wacky racers were thin on the ground.

Only four teams entered the race, which was revived five years ago by the East Hoathly and Halland Carnival Society.

Dracula was first over the finish line in a coffin mounted on a pram, cloak billowing behind him as his scary team flew into first place.

Father Christmas dashed in behind in a wheelchair, exhausted from his Christmas Eve efforts.

Three blind mice
The three blind mice

And the blind mice made a gallant effort to follow a giant lump of cheese, despite being unable able to see where it was.

The elves in a wheelchair-mounted elf-mobile almost made the finish line but the final sprint was too much for their legs.

The race, won by the Robbie's Horror Show team, was watched by about 300 people.

The organiser is Angeline Frazzell, 49, of Hesmonds stud farm in Waldron Road, East Hoathly, near Hailsham.

The Elf service
The elf service

She said: "It was a bit of a disappointment that only four teams entered but lots of people turned out to watch and everyone still had fun."

The annual boxing day event raised £420 for the society's November carnival.

Every year the pram race starts and finishes at the King's Head, High Street, East Hoathly.

But the rules are changed annually so people cannot practice.

Miss Frazzell said: "This year they ran to The Foresters on South Street, had a drink and then ran back.
"I stopped them 50 yards from the end and they had to sprint to the finish line."

Participants spend months dreaming up costumes but the race is over in minutes.

Teams sprint to three locations to collect stars before a dash back to the pub and the winner's platform.

As they battle with trolleys, prams or anything with wheels, residents cheer them on. The event began in the Seventies and became part of the village's Christmas celebrations. It was abandoned in the Eighties but five years ago, members of the carnival society decided to revive it.