PETA wants this year’s cheese-rolling competition, in Gloucester, to go vegan (Picture: Getty)

Organisers of a famous annual cheese-rolling competition have been asked to use vegan cheese.

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll in Gloucester sees people travel from all over the country, and sometimes even the world, to chase a wheel of Double Gloucester down a 200-yard-long hill.

But now PETA has written a letter requesting for the cheese to be vegan at this year’s tounament, set to begin on Monday.

The animal welfare charity vice president of vegan corporate projects, Dawn Carr, wrote: ‘Dear Cheese-Rollers: I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to urge Cooper’s Hill to embrace a new tradition: instead of the annual rolling of a dairy cheese – made by expelling fluid from the underside of an unwilling Gloucester cow – switch to a vegan cheese, a move that would be better for cows and the planet and that would make the event more inclusive.

‘Leave behind tired old traditions, and roll out a new one! Far from suggesting anyone stop chasing a cheesy dream, we’re simply encouraging you to update the nature of the cheese for everyone’s benefit.

‘Cows are gentle, intelligent animals who, when given the chance, will nurture their young and form lifelong friendships with one another – pleasures denied them on dairy farms. Cows confined by the dairy industry are repeatedly forcibly impregnated and separated from their bellowing calves so humans can loot their mammary secretions.

‘And cows’ milk is meant for baby cows, not humans, which is why people who consume dairy are at greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other ailments. Add to all that the well-documented environmental destruction caused by raising animals for their milk – including methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions as well as water pollution from slurry run-off – and it’s clear to see that dairy harms us all.’

Contestants in the men’s downhill race could not keep up with the slope (Picture: Getty)

Abby Lampe from North Carolina celebrates her win in the women’s race last year with previous winner Flo Early (Picture: Getty)

The letter continues: ‘In contrast, vegan cheeses can be made from plants like cashews, oats, and soya and contain healthy fats but no cholesterol. We’re confident a kinder, nutritious, delicious, and pus-free vegan cheese would roll just as fast but wouldn’t leave the trail of destruction caused by dairy.

‘PETA would be happy to work with Smart’s Farm to produce a magnificent round of plant-based cheese for use at the event – perhaps with technical assistance from a major producer such as Babybel, Applewood, or Cathedral City, all mainstream dairy businesses that are helping to meet the booming demand for vegan cheese and certainly have the know-how.

‘We hope you’ll agree it’s time to cheese the day with a new, cruelty-free cheese wheel, ensuring the only ones who may be hurt are the willing participants who take a tumble while chasing that delicious, alluring vegan cheese down Cooper’s Hill.’

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Organisers of the competition said they are too busy preparing for Monday to respond to the letter.

Cheese rolling, now officially an extreme sport, is one of the world’s most bizarre ‘Feats of Strength’ events, it has been celebrated for centuries, despite the shadow of health and safety risks.

A nine-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese, which can take on speeds of more than 70 miles per hour, is released down the hill and competitors haul themselves down the slope.

The first one to make it to the bottom wins the cheese.

Every event sees people getting injured – with a number of broken bones and sprains – but many participants always return for the next.

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PETA said dairy cheese is made by ‘expelling fluid from the underside of an unwilling cow’.