TWO US citizens and a Briton were gored and eight others injured yesterday on the first day of the San Fermin bull run in the Spanish city of Pamplona.

Among them was Mike Webster, an occupational therapist from Florida, who was gored as he ran with the bulls in Pamplona for the 38th time in 11 years.

Three other Americans were among the eight others injured, most with bruises from falls and crowd crushes.

Despite the danger and the brutality of the bullfights at the end of the run, the festival of San Fermin is popular among locals and tourists alike.

Cultural traditions are a source of great pride to the Spanish and the event is a boon to the local economy, as revellers throng restaurants, bars and hotels.

However, two men have died recently after being gored by bulls in Spanish festivals in the towns of Grao de Castellon and Coria.