Hundreds of bin men and women from across the UK descended on Weston to race against their colleagues in the National Refuse Championships on Saturday.

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Thousands of people gathered along the Beach Lawns to watch 26 teams compete in gruelling races against the clock.

Competitors repeatedly loaded wheelie bins with bags of sand then pushed or pulled them to an awaiting refuse truck and emptied them, before the vehicles raced to the finish line.

Last year's winners, Grist Environmental, managed to defend their crown and win the race.

Biffa, from Weston, also achieved the same position as last year, coming in a close second.

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Marcus Grist, Grist Environmental team captain and driver said: "It was a great day and the sportsmanship between the teams was fantastic."

The money raised from the event will be donated to The Alzheimer's Society.

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: Biffa WsM in the final, but Lost to Grist team 1The final bewtween Grist team 1 from Wilrshire and Biffa from WsM (nr)National Refuse Championships.Biffa WsM in the final, but Lost to Grist team 1The final bewtween Grist team 1 from Wilrshire and Biffa from WsM (nr)National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: Biffa WsM in the final, but Lost to Grist team 1The final bewtween Grist team 1 from Wilrshire and Biffa from WsM (nr)National Refuse Championships.Biffa WsM in the final, but Lost to Grist team 1The final bewtween Grist team 1 from Wilrshire and Biffa from WsM (nr)National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)

Weston Mercury: National Refuse Championships.National Refuse Championships. (Image: Jeremy Long / JCL PHOTOGRAPHY)