It's sport, it's extreme, it's... ironing!

Possibly the most bizarre extreme sport on Earth celebrates its first ever world championships next month.

Extreme Ironing devotees like nothing more than removing creases from their clothes halfway up cliffs, on top of mountains or in busy city streets. Its creator Phil Shaw, of Leicester, says it "combines the thrill of an extreme sport with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt".

Extreme Ironing leaves you feeling on top of the world

It's also fun for both man and beast - but the iron is not switched on.

Cliffs are obvious locations for a spot of ironing....

As are busy city streets

A spot of ironing can only enhance works of art

But getting your clothes wet kind of defeats the object