[Photos: Peter Clark]

POLICE claimed the bragging rights against firefighters at this year’s Soho Village Fête tug of war – ending a long run of defeats.

The West End coppers were given a boost against their arch rivals from Soho fire station with support from a “crack team” of Territorial Support Group officers.

Both the emergency services teams came together afterwards to help sort out a fire at the starting line of the waiters’ race, causing a brief delay to what is for many the main event of the popular summer festival.

The race was won by waiters from Ronnie Scott’s and The Groucho Club, with Queens Head Piccadilly winning best dressed for the second year running.

It was just one of the fun-packed events at the annual festival in St Anne’s Gardens, which was host to a massive 5,800 people over six hours on Sunday.

“What a fantastic fête we had,” said the Soho Society’s Lucy Haine.

Soho boy Neil Drinkwater headlined the live music, which saw performances from drag queens Minnie Diamond and Ebonknee.

Three land snails stole the show at the snail race with L’Escargot supplying the winners with prizes of chocolate snails.

The most Soho Dog prize was won by three mutts who live in Carnaby Street, Silver Place and St Anne’s Church, Dean Street, respectively.

The Soho Society event is sponsored by the Crown Estate, Shaftesbury plc, Broadwick Soho, The Coop, Soho House, Rotary London and the Soho Housing Association.

The spaghetti-eating competition and human fruit machine were ever popular at the 48th village fête.