Pancake Day 2012: Shrove Tuesday celebrations in pictures

Harry Bennett aged 6 from the Olney Infant Academy crosses the line to win his section of a children's pancake race in the town centre of Olney. Tradition records that back in 1445, on Shrove Tuesday, the "Shriving Bell" rang out to signal the start of the Shriving church service. On hearing the bell a local housewife, who had been busy cooking pancakes in anticipation of the beginning of Lent, ran to the church, frying pan still in hand, still in her apron and a head scarf. The women of Olney recreate this race every Shrove Tuesday by running from the market place to the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times