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Clean-up begins after Royal Shrovetide Football

BBC Rubbish bagsBBC
People were up early in the morning to gather waste from the two-day game

A Derbyshire town is returning to normality following two days of an ancient football game.

Thousands of people took part in the Royal Shrovetide Football - where the Up'Ards took the victory.

The historic game is played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday nearly every year since since 1667.

A clean-up operation began on Thursday morning as businesses took down protective barriers to guard against the large crowds.

Shrovetide football winners celebrate victory in street

The annual game pits two teams of people from the opposite ends of Ashbourne.

The players attempt to manoeuvre the ball into one of two goals separated by three miles.

Played over two eight-hour periods, using a special hand-sewn leather ball which is moved via a large scrum called 'the hug', the ancient game has few rules and is known to cause frequent injuries.

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Players in riverEPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
'The Up'Ards' and 'The Down'Ards' compete for the ball during the Royal Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne on Wednesday
Rubbish bags
People have been hard at work clearing up after the two-day game
Workers taking down barriers
Protective barriers were taken down on Thursday morning
Man taking down barrier at shop
Businesses across Ashbourne have taken down barriers protecting shop fronts from the crowds
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