AS many of us prepare to make or buy batter and brace ourselves to fling food around our kitchens, the Daily Echo takes a look back at pancake races two decades ago.

These pictures were taken at various events across Dorset and show people of all ages flipping flat discs of bread.

Dozens of children from Hampreston put their best foot forward as they thundered through the village, each of their faces plastered with severe look of concentration as they tried their very hardest to flip their pancake back into their pan and not on the ground.

Christchurch’s annual pancake race was held in Church Street and even included a local celebrity race with the vicar Rev Hugh Williams, PC Brenda Traylen, Mayor Bob McArthur, BBC’s Richard Drax, Ivo the clown and local postwoman Debbie Kitley.