Thousands take part in first running of the bulls in annual San Fermin Festival

The festival takes place in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona (Alvaro Barrientos/AP)

Thousands of thrill-seekers have taken part in the first running of the bulls at this year’s San Fermin Festival in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.

Several runners took knocks and hard falls in the event on Friday morning but no one was gored by the animals, a frequent feature of the spectacle.