Sam Bush (11) running with his pancake at the Gressenhall Pancake Races. Picture Matthew Usher.

Flippin’ ’eck, this wind’s a nuisance...

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Children and grown-ups who went under starter’s orders for the third annual charity pancake races at Gressenhall had to contend with a stiff south-westerly breeze.

Mums, dads, boys and girls and even tiny tots in arms took part in the “Shrove Saturday” stakes on the village green.

But tossing the fried batter mixture the requisite number of times during the sprints proved decidedly difficult in the headwind, and all ages found the going tricky.

Still, everyone took the thrills and spills in good spirit, and in doing so the contestants in the various age groups hope to have run up a sterling sum for the charity, WaterAid.

Race “steward” was bowler-hatted villager Brian Moore, who also lent encouragement to those competitors struggling to keep their pancakes in order.

He said: “It is good fun. You have got to keep these things going, otherwise a village isn’t a proper village.”

Shrove Tuesday is not until next week, but the event was brought forward so as not to clash with the village playgroup activities in Gressenhall Reading Room, the headquarters of the races.

After their exertions, many of the entrants retired to the room, where a coffee morning was in full swing for the funds of Bittering Church, to tuck into cuppas, cake... and piping-hot pancakes.

Pancake race winners were: ages five and six, Kayla Webster; seven and eight, Abi Webdale; eight to 11, Elliot Daniels; adults, Andy Moore and Mandy Webdale.