More than 14,000 spectators turned out to watch a topless tobogganing tournament in Germany.

A total of 30 male and female competitors braved the elements to race along a 100 metre track in the event in Braunlage. Christian Schmidt, 26, won the event, while a 70-year-old man got the biggest round of applause for stripping down to his long johns.

Earlier, Germany's first ever topless tobogganing championships at another town nearly didn't go ahead after a mayor said he was "offended" by the spectacle. The ladies, competing for cash prizes of nearly £300 each, were required only to wear a hard helmet and footwear for the race at Oberwiesenthal near the border with the Czech Republic.

Liberal party mayor Mirko Ernst had threatened to ban the event. "The good name of Oberwiesenthal is at stake," he said.

Doesn't sound very liberal to me!

The crowd were disappointed by the first entrant...

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