THE county town of North Yorkshire went flipping mad as residents celebrated Shrove Tuesday in the traditional fashion.

Staff from stores, businesses and other organisations across Northallerton grabbed their frying pans for the town’s annual pancake races.

But first it was the turn of pupils from local schools to test their flipping skill on the Applegarth playing field.

The course covered just over 50m - equivalent to the distance between the town hall and market cross, where the race used to be run in days of old.

The event was re-instated in 2010 by local shop Lewis and Cooper and has since become a firm part of the local calendar.

It is supported by the local Rotary club as well as the Northallerton Retail and Business Forum and individual firms including Bettys and Grovers.