PANCAKE racers in North Yorkshire’s county town will be going flipping mad next month.

Stores, businesses and other organisations are lining up to take part in Northallerton’s annual pancake race on Shrove Tuesday.

Flipping a pancake all the way, runners will attempt to stay on a course on the town’s Applegarth playing fields on March 4 and the money raised will go to the Friarage Hospital’s MRI scanner appeal.

Last year Stan Parry, of Barkers department store, took the trophy in the adults’ race, which followed heats run by pupils from Applegarth School.

This year’s event will once again put pupils against each other, with the fun starting at 10.30am. Spectators are welcome.

The race covers just over 50m – equivalent to the distance between the town hall and market cross, where the race used to be run in years gone by.

The event, which was reinstated in 2010 by food firm Lewis and Cooper, is being supported by the local Rotary Club, Northallerton Retail and Business Forum and individual firms including Bettys and Grovers.

Entrants for the main race simply need to turn up on the day – with their own frying pan – in return for a donation of at least £1.

For more information about the event, call 01609-766702 or email lisa.bradley@lewisandcooper.co.uk