Ambassador for World Meat Free Week encourages people to try meat-free meals to reduce impact on the planet.

Double Olympic gold medal winning cyclist and jockey Victoria Pendleton drove some vegetable sheep across London Bridge to turn an ancient tradition on its head.

She drove Caulin, Baa-bara and Bo, along a traditional market route as part of a campaign which aims to raise awareness of World Meat Free Week.

She was joined yesterday by like-minded non-meat eaters as they exercised their ‘right’ to go meat-free in the heart of the capital.

The Freemans Great Sheep Drive, dating from the 12th century, gave farmers the right to bring livestock and tools into the City without paying tax – but her animals were made of veg.

Victoria, ambassador for World Meat Free Week and vegan, said: “For World Meat Free Week I’m encouraging more people to try just one meat-free meal as eating fewer animal products is the single biggest way to reduce our impact on the planet.”

The 38-year-old won gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and nine world titles.

She trained to be a jump jockey in 12 months from never having ridden a horse, while living a vegan lifestyle.