In a world first, the Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio today played host to the inaugural international toddler racing championship.

Dressed as iconic music stars, babies Ella, Emma, Joshua and Harry - AKA Blondie, Duffy, Liam Gallagher and Brian May - got things off to a suitably rock and roll start with dark shades, feather boas and even some diva tantrums when winner Duffy was too tired and emotional to attend the presentation awards. Rumour has it she didn’t want to be pictured with racing commentator John McCririck after he placed her as the rank outsider earlier in the morning.

All four babies were entered into the five metre front crawl in the Absolute Radio Zoo by their parents after a joke comment by Breakfast Show DJ Christian O’Connell. Last weekend he was greatly amused to see two parents desperately chasing a baby round a restaurant as the little one kept making a desperate bid for freedom away from the table. Within moments of saying how funny it would be to see babies putting all that energy into an actual race, listeners were contacting the show asking Christian to make it happen!

With so much doom and gloom around, the Breakfast Show DJ agreed it was time to shake off the January blues and give people something to smile about. Step forward:

Marcello and 13 month old daughter Ella (1st place)

Anna Maria and 11 month old son Joshua (2nd place)

Rob and 17 month old daughter Emma (3rd place)

Abbey and 11 month old son Harry (4th place)

Absolute Radio Breakfast Show DJ Christian O’Connell said: "We’ve had a few odd demands at the station before but toys and rusks aren’t normally top of the list."

Watch the race below: