Cheesemaking gran told by police not to supply Double Gloucester for cheese rolling event

Cheese maker Diana Smart has been told by police not to provide a Double Gloucester for Monday's iconic downhill chase. Police have taken a hard line on cheese rollers determined to keep the daredevil tradition alive. They have persuaded grandmother Diana, 86, to break with a 25-year tradition by not supplying this year's cheese, which madcap thrill seekers have chased down Cooper's Hill for generations.



Organisers of the annual spectacle said they will defy any bid to stop it, however, and police officers will be patrolling the area on Monday to make sure things don't get out of hand. Those behind the event are furious at Gloucestershire Constabulary's move. "It's outrageous," said one organiser, who plans to hold the cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill on Monday regardless. "You cannot stop someone selling cheese. If they try to stop us, we will use something else or get some cheese elsewhere."

Diana, who sells her handmade cheeses everywhere from farmers markets to Fortnum and Mason, confirmed police had spoken to her. "We are not allowed to," said the Birdwood cheese maker. "They said it could cause us an enormous amount of damages. I just have to take it as they have said. We cannot do anything about it." Since the early 1800s a cheese has been chased down the 200 yard, one in three, hill. But after an estimated 15,000 people tried to watch in 2009, organisers of the 2010 event were forced to cancel on the advice of police and councils.



A Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "Advice has been given to all those who have participated in any planning of an unofficial cheese rolling event this coming bank holiday. This included the individuals who provide the cheese. We feel it is important that those who, by law, could be constituted as organisers of the event are aware of the responsibilities that come with it so that they can make an informed decision about their participation."