The organisers of an unusual Italian religious festival in which penitents in white hoods and robes flagellate themselves until they bleed have imposed a new rule for the event this year – strictly no selfies.

Thousands of tourists are expected to descend on the medieval village of Guardia Sanframondi in the southern region of Campania this week to witness hundreds of locals beat themselves on the chest until the blood flows.

The penitents are known as “battenti”, or “beaters”, who scour themselves with corks containing metal spikes.

The event is held every seven years and organisers say the problem of selfies was not an issue last time because very few people had smart phones.