CHILDREN and adults alike left their inhibitions behind yesterday to enjoy some Shrove Tuesday fun.

The noble tradition of pancake racing was successfully revived in Ripon three years ago and is now firmly part of the local calendar.

Several roads around the cathedral were closed as competitors of all shapes and sizes - including the Dean, the Very Reverend John Methuen, took part in a series of races.

All the pancakes were made by the Ripon-based 30 Regiment Royal Engineers, operating from a field kitchen set up for the occasion.

The idea for Ripon's pancake races came from the ringing of the cathedral's Pancake Bell, which has sounded at 11am on every Shrove Tuesday for the past 600 years.

Traditionally the bell was used to summon penitents to church to be shriven - that is to make their confession before the start of Lent.

Chapter clerk Dr Howard Crawshaw said: "Pancake races on Shrove Tuesday were like village sports days in days gone by - the last chance to have fun before the solemn season of Lent, leading up to Easter."