Children carrying frying pans and pancakes dashed along Lime Tree Avenue at the Public Gardens to celebrate Shrove Tuesday in Alton Town Council’s annual Pancake Race today.

Alton town mayor Cllr Annette Eyre could not pick a winner from the fancy dress entrants, who all wore marvellous costumes, so each of them went home with a prize.

Town crier Dave Parsons started the races, deputy town clerk Hayley Carter ensured the competitors made it to the start line and recorded the results, and town clerk Tom Horwood was there to help cheer on the children.

Spectators warmed themselves up on a sunny but cold day with hot drinks and pancakes from the Capra café. They could add banana, strawberry, blueberry, chocolate spread or maple syrup to their traditional sugar and lemon pancakes.

There were five pancake-themed age categories for the races - Nutella (pre-school), Lemon and Sugar (Years R to 2), Milk (Years 3 to 6), Flour (Years 7 to 11) and Eggs (relay).

The top three in each heat won a first, second or third place sticker, the top three in each final were awarded a gold, silver or bronze sticker, and the winner of each final received a prize.