The competitive alcohol-free stage of the Pewsey Carnival four-legged race was called off on Thursday after no-one signed up.

Instead, entrants held out for the non-competitive event where they followed the same course but were allowed to drink.

The event, previously called the wine race, is the first of the village carnival’s three big events – with the wheelbarrow race taking place this evening and the procession on Saturday.

In all, 52 teams took part, three down from last year, during which teams of three racers are tied together at the ankle.

Organiser David Major said: “Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves and had a good time so hopefully the wheelbarrow race will go just as well.”

This year was the first time that two events were staged, after changes to licensing legislation meant entrants were prohibited from drinking alcohol if they race.

The competitive stage was due to start at 7.45pm. The main event began shortly after 8pm with teams parading in front of the crowd before a staggered start. Entrants included ginger ninjas, punks and the obligatory men dressed as women.

Along the route the teams stopped at the Football Club, The Cooper’s Arms, The Moonrakers, Daisy’s Kitchen, Thomsons and The Royal Oak, where one member of each team had to drink a glass of wine or, alternatively, a soft drink.

The Where’s Wally ladies, made up of Kinga Tarnai, Helena La Greseley and Nicky Black, were first to cross the finish line but with the event no longer a race they could not be crowned the winners.

Ms Tarnai said: “My team has won for the last 15 years so it’s a shame we can’t race properly.

“We all run three or four times a week, we play squash and I don’t really drink. This is a chance to get out and have some fun, so it’s disappointing that’s been taken away from us but we won’t let it spoil our night.

“The atmosphere is not the same as other years.”

Judy Batten, Libby Tuxford and Tim Rook won the best costume dressed as The Big Tissue.

The evening’s festivities began with carnival queen Eleanor Smith switching on the lights at 7.30pm. She said: “It’s good to be a part of it because usually I’m just watching.”

Registration for the wheelbarrow race is from 4.30pm-7pm at the Bouverie Hall. Racers will set off at 7.30pm and stop for non-alcoholic drinks en route. They can then join in the main throng of non-racing participants, who will start at 8pm, and take it in turns to drink a beer, or a soft drink, at each stop.