TIME IS running out for teams who want to take part in one of Hampshire’s biggest spectacles.

Organisers of the Daily Echo-backed British Pedal Car Grand Prix say anyone yet to enter should do so by Thursday, June 28, at the latest.

Ringwood is hosting the action-packed event on July 8, when thousands will line the streets to watch a crazy collection of homemade vehicles battle it out.

Market Square and other roads in the town centre will be closed to traffic to enable the two-hour contest to take place.

The number of cars entered so far stands at 34 with one team - Apollo Racing - set to make a 270-mile round trip from Rugby in Warwickshire to take part.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has entered a team called Flaming Cheetahs, while Hospital Dodgers will represent the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

A bakery and a florist have joined forces to create a team called Bun and Bunch and drivers from a firm of undertakers are calling themselves Men in Black.

Race director Tony Butterworth said: “About 34 cars have been entered so far. We’ve still got spaces left and will take late entries, but we’d like to have them all in by next Thursday to avoid a last-minute panic.

“The event is on July 8 and we really need about a week beforehand to get all the information together.

“We’ve got three women’s teams and the same number of junior teams, which is well down on previous years. In the past we’ve had seven or eight junior entries.

The pedal cars will be on show at the Furlong Centre between 10am and 2.30pm on the big day, with the race itself starting at 3pm.

Spectators will be able to walk along the course and watch the action from various vantage points.

The British Pedal Car Grand Prix is an annual spectacle that turns a set of Hampshire streets into a racetrack resembling the millionaires playground of Monaco. The event alternates between two venues, with New Milton hosting it one year and Ringwood the next.

This year’s main sponsor is Ringwood Brewery.

To enter, visit britishpedalcargrandprix.org.