Pancake Day race in Ripon

It's that time of year again – Pancake Day!

Laughter has been be ringing out along Kirkgate as hundreds of Ripon residents are taking part in the city's Pancake Day races, which have become a much-loved and long-established tradition.

Organised by Ripon Festivals and the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels, more than 24 races are expected to run this year.

The event started at 11am today (5 March) outside the Cathedral, as the Lent bell began to ring.

The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Coun Bernard Bateman, and the Mayor of Ripon, Coun Pauline McHardy, will open the children's races, and more than 300 Cadbury creme eggs will be given out to schoolchildren who take part.

Like other years, the 38th Regiment and the 21 Royal Engineers will be cooking the pancakes in a field kitchen outside the Cathedral.

The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Coun Bernard Bateman, who is a organiser of the event with the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels, said: