People from around the world arrived at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire, England on Monday for the annual cheese-rolling race. (Photos: VCG)

Competitors ran, slid and stumbled down the famous steep hill, all trying to win a 3.6 kg wheel-shaped chunk of Double Gloucester cheese.

The world-known annual event, which at first was organized to observe the return of spring, has been celebrated for centuries.

Due to the steepness and uneven surface of Cooper's Hill, there are usually a number of injuries each year. The competition in recent years has seen increasing concerns over health and safety.