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Shaolin monks put their deadly kung fu skills to the test in a series of challenges to other temples - on who are the best fire-fighters.

The monks - in their traditional orange robes - took on other Buddhist sects in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China, in a contest to see who's the fastest at putting out a blaze.

The contests started because government run fire fighting services are often too slow and unreliable to protect temples lit by thousands of candles.

"By the time they get there it would be too late so we have to take the Buddha's will into our own hands. The Shaolin monks always do well because their kung fu practice keeps them so fit," explained one organiser.