These diving pigs could learn a thing or two from Tom Daley after launching themselves off a high platform as part of a swimming competition in China's Hunan Province.

The May Day attraction took place at Shiyan Lake, a popular holiday spot for tourists in Changsha, and saw the animals race towards a finishing line to the delight of onlookers.

However tourism officials have received complaints that the bizarre stunt should not be repeated, despite plans to make it a regular weekend event.

Pigs jump off a platform and swim towards the finish line in the Shiyan Lake in the capital of Hunan Province

The swines sail through the air before hitting the water with a splash in front of delighted tourists

The sell-out race saw the piglets, painted with numbers, diving off the raised platform, aided by a coach.

Looking surprisingly graceful, the swines soared through the air before hitting the water with a splash and paddling towards the finish line as they were cheered on by the crowd.

Organiser Shi Huang said: 'The piglets are carefully trained to perform this special stunt and they get well rewarded with food and once they get over their nerves they clearly enjoyed it.

'Anybody who says it is cruel is clearly not well informed that pigs like water.'

Onlookers cheer on the numbered pigs as they race towards the finish line for edible rewards

The numbered pigs were trained for the event, which proved to be a sell-out May Day attraction

Those who objected to the event said it was unfair to push the pigs off the platform using a board, and to deny them getting to safety on the shore with the use of a bamboo barrier alongside the race area.

Lok Chiang, who commented online, said: 'This was clearly animal abuse. It may well be the case that pigs like water, but not jumping into it from the top of a huge platform.

'That just isn't natural for any pig, there is no way you can claim they enjoy it.'

Despite the backlash tourism officials are looking into ways to expand the project, so more people can see the plucky pigs.

Tourists crowded alongside a platform to see the piglets leap into the water from the high platform