THE ancient city of Chester has borne witness to much over the millennia, but the sight of grown men and women chasing cheeses down its streets has got to . . . take the biscuit.

Chester’s Food and Drink Festival started on a roll yesterday as teams battled it out to win the now famous cheese rolling competition.

The event on the cobbled streets of the city centre was followed by a pancake tossing race and both form a precursor to the city's Food and Drink Festival.

This year’s cheese rolling race featured an obstacle course including a life-size imitation cow and goat, and hot favourites were Cheshire's high-rollers.

But, for the first time in the race's history, a team based largely outside the county won the title in a hard-fought contest, watched by many bemused shoppers who cheered from the sidelines on Upper Bridge Street.

After a hardened battle of the big cheeses new team Hill Valley High Rollers beat five time champions Made In Cheshire to lift the cup for the first time. The contest celebrates the fact that Cheshire cheese has seen a huge revival in its popularity in recent years.

Stephen Wundke, chairman of the Chester Food and Drink festival, said: “The cheese rolling event always launches the annual Chester Food and Drink Festival on a roll. This event was added to by the new pancake tossing this year, on Shrove Tuesday.

“This really signals food and drink as one of Cheshire’s most important products, in what is fast becoming one of the biggest food festivals in the country.”

FOR more information on the Chester Food & Drink Festival, see www.chesterfoodanddrink.com