EUROPE'S largest inflatable slide is coming to Liverpool later this year as a national Wipeout-style event is launched.

Gung-Ho! Is a 5k race with ten huge inflatable obstacles which participants have to navigate their way through.

The event, at Aintree Racecourse, is costing £250,000 to stage.

Organisers say it is a first for Liverpool and is the idea of CBeebies presenter Alex Winters who will host the race.

The children’s television presenter said: “People have seen Wipeout and some of the other obstacle races on TV and this captures the essence of that. I thought about Total Wipeout and, It's a Knockout and it went from there, 

“Make no mistake, it’s still a 5k but not as you know it.”

The inaugural event takes place here on August 29 with events also scheduled in Newcastle and Windsor in September.

"One Saturday evening I was watching Ninja Warrior with my kids and it sparked something. Why not do something similar, where everyone can be involved?," says Winters.

After a staircase-like starting hill, participants, who can be any age as long as they are over 4ft tall,  will run through a giant ball pit, a foam pit, a climbing wall, and more before finishing with record-breaking slide, The Thriller, which is 48ft long.

"We just want people to come along and wet themselves laughing while doing this course!"

Well, sort of.

*Gung-Ho!, Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool 9, August 29, Tickets are available at a £35 early bird rate from until June 26, then £40 until July 24 and £45 after this date until August 21 . Website

 

Alex WintersGung-Ho! Alex Winters