SCHOOLS, businesses, shops and cathedral clergy will compete in Ripon's annual pancake race tomorrow.

The Pancake Bell will chime at 11am to start the dash from outside the cathedral's West Door, up Kirkgate to the Market Place.

The Dean, the Very Reverend John Methuen, will officiate as master of ceremonies at the event, which can trace its roots back 600 years.

The Pancake Bell used to chime at 11am to summon worshippers to church to be "shriven" of their sins before Lent. The traditional race was resurrected five years ago.

"Pancake races on Shrove Tuesday were like village sports days in days gone by,'' said Dean Methuen.

"They were the last chance to have fun before the solemn season of Lent leading up to Easter, and it is a tradition which has grown each year since it was restarted."