Seven people, including two Americans, a Mexican, a Pole and a Norwegian, were gored yesterday in the bloodiest day yet at this year?s annual running of the bulls festival in the northern Spanish town of Pamplona, organisers said.

A German, a Frenchman and three Spaniards were also treated for other injuries after the sixth day of the event, in which thousands of runners, mostly men drunk after all-night revelling, run through Pamplona?s streets as the bulls are herded to a bullring.

The San Fermin running of the bulls is an ancient tradition. It was made famous by Ernest Hemingway?s novel ?The Sun also Rises?, a semi-autobiographical account of an alcohol-fuelled visit to the festival by a group of squabbling British and American friends in the 1920s.

Three of yesterday?s injured, including the Mexican, who was gored in the abdomen and thigh, were in very serious condition and needed surgery.

The bulls are later killed by bullfighters, with few exceptions.