Running Of The Tar Barrels In Ottery St Mary

A crowd watches as the barrel is lit in preparation for running. The annual running of the tar barrels in Ottery St Mary, Devon is a tradition thought to go back as far as 500 years. Every November the 5th, crowds of thousands flock to this small town in the south west of England to see men, women and children run with burning barrels on their shoulders. Only people who were born in Ottery are allowed to participate, and they are proud of the tradition and work hard to keep it alive, even in the face of health and safety regulations. It is not competitive but rather a supportive act where they pass the barrels between themselves, encouraging everyone in the team to have a go. (photo by Phil Clarke Hill/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)