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Pancake flipping races captured across south

Gareth Clark Five women are lined up in the road taking part in a pancake race. They are all concentrating on trying to flip their pancake in their frying pan, while running through the street as onlookers watch.Gareth Clark
Ben Hodgkinson smiles at the camera. He is sitting on a set of steps in Wallingford town centre. He has short blonde hair and a short ginger bear, wears black Ray Bans with a pale green zipped up fleece and blue shorts. He is holding a frying pan in his left hand with two triangular folded pancakes inside and in his right hand he's holding a golden frying pan, which has a red and white ribbon tied to the handle and the pan has writing which says, "The world famous Willingford pancake race 2025"
Residents in Wallingford showed up with their own frying pans for a pancake race
Ben Hodgkinson, 44, took home the prize for coming first in the Wallingford race

People have been flipping pancakes while running through the streets to mark Shrove Tuesday across the south of England.

Many donned fancy dress outfits to take part in Pancake Day races, watched by hundred of onlookers.

In some towns across Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset the running races have been a longstanding, annual tradition.

The one in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, has been held for at least 50 years, organisers said.

Local resident, 44-year-old Ben Hodgkinson, came first in this year's race around Market Place in the town.

Runners turned up with their frying pans for a short lap around the town, with the added requirement of a pancake toss at the start line.

Elsewhere in the region, in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, the town's former mayor organised this year's flipping event.

Competitors darted around the town's minster, slinging their pancakes in the air at four corners of the church.

While in Berkshire, Great Western Railway passengers were served pancakes on their journey between Plymouth and Paddington.

Isle of Wight ferry service Red Funnel posted a social media video to mark Shrove Tuesday where staff are purportedly seen hurling a pancake to one another, between different locations.

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'Secret ingredient'

Homelessness charity, Launchpad Reading, held a race in the town centre to raise money.

Dozens of competitors dressed up, with the winners wearing costumes inspired by the Wizard of Oz.

Lara Cater, manager of family business Stakks in Southampton, said it was the busiest day of the year for the business.

"Our most popular savoury dishes are bacon with maple syrup and then a sausage, bacon, fried egg and maple syrup - or sweet has all the chocolate you can imagine stacked up on a plate," she said.

The pancake house was inspired by Ms Cater's grandmother.

"All our pancakes are her original recipe," she continued, adding: "The secret ingredient is love."

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