PEWSHAM childminding group’s first pancake races was well attended on a sunny Shrove Tuesday morning.

They held the event in Pewsham Park to plug the gap left by the town council event traditionally held in the High Street.

Organiser Becky Henwood was delighted to see about 50 kids and their mums or childminders enjoying the event and said she would hold it again.

She said: “We just wanted to do something for the children. There are more people here than we thought.”

Children as young as 11 months, the little ones aided by their mums, raced down the path trying to keep their pancakes in the frying pans, with varying success.

Crossing the line first in her race was two-year-old Esmay looking the part in her Little Chef hat and apron. Her mum Sasha Wilkins, of Cowleaze, said: “I thought it would be a fun thing to do, to get out the house.”

Childminder Michelle Carter, of Pewsham, has watched the pancake races traditionally held in Chippenham High Street since they started 16 years ago.

She said: “They bring the community together.”

She said two-year-old William Tappin and three-year-old Oliver Brown, looking cute in oversized chef hat and mini checkered pants, had taken part every year of their lives.

“We dress them up every time,” she said.

Fellow childminder Sarah Stovell was on her day off but brought her own kids along to watch – Chris, 18, and Sophie, 15.

She said: “Bring back our pancake races. It is a true community event. The older people love to come and watch it.”

Sheldon student Sophie, who was giving out lollipops to the winners, added: “It’s great, it makes the parents look foolish!”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

The town council’s annual pancake races did not go ahead this year for the first time since 1999, after its events manager was made redundant.

Chippenham Town Councillor Sandie Webb said the council was tied up preparing for a major Neeld Hall transformation and she hoped the races would return next year.

The Business Improvement District (BID) are taking on responsibility for outdoor events but have not confirmed which ones.