EDDIE the Eagle said he ‘cannot wait’ to come to Barrow to make his Super Soapbox Challenge debut.

Organised by Barrow’s Business Improvement District team, the racing spectacle will take place on June 29 and will see competitors speed down a ramp on Dalton Road near the top of Portland Walk, down to the finish line at Abbey Road.

Michael ‘Eddie’ Edwards, who competed in the ski-jump at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary for Team GB, will be first down the ramp – not on skis, but in a soapbox vehicle.

“Everybody who followed my adventures at the Olympics back in ’88 will be well-aware that I love speeding down slopes, especially against the odds,” he said.

“This will be my first time whizzing down a ramp in a soapbox vehicle and I’m sure that I’ll have stiff competition from those who will want to beat my time, so it will be really fun to see all the teams vying for the title of fastest soapbox.

“It’s going to be a brilliant day and I for one can’t wait to come to Barrow to see the action unfold before my eyes.”

Eddie will also be taking part in meet and greet sessions, as well as speaking at the Forum.

After each vehicle is launched down the ramp, it will have to reach the finish-line using propulsion-only.

That means no motors, no pedals and no stored potential energy, with gravity, aerodynamics - and brakes being each competitor’s best friend.

Barrow’s BID team has signed-up The Super Soapbox Challenge Company Limited to get the wheels in motion.

Super Soapbox Marketing Manager Andrew Pearson said: “A similar event was launched in part of York three years ago, which resulted in more than 16,000 people turning out to watch it. Just three years later, that audience increased to just under 25,000 people. The local economy was boosted by more than £1.2 million at the 2017 event and £50,000 was raised for charity.

“In Barrow, we want to make it the highlight of the town’s summer calendar for at least the next three years. We’ve got space for 50 teams to enter in total, with each team taking part in two races before competitors are whittled down ahead of the grand-final.

“Not only will this event be great publicity for the town, it will bring fantastic financial benefits to local businesses, wide exposure for charities which get involved and of course promises to be a great day out for the whole family.

While corporate entry is £400, individuals, emergency services, BID levy payers, armed forces and charities can enter for £200. The teams of five will compete not only for the fastest times but prizes including ‘most innovative cart design’, ‘best turned-out soapbox crew’ and ‘joker of the day’.