On your marks, get set, flip!

Eastern Daily Press: Action from the 2013 Pancake Races on the Village Green in Gressenhall. Picture: Matthew Usher.Action from the 2013 Pancake Races on the Village Green in Gressenhall. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2013)

Frying pans were at the ready and community spirit was as bright as the winter sun at Gressenhall, near Dereham, as the village staged its annual pancake race on Saturday.

Eastern Daily Press: Action from the 2013 Pancake Races on the Village Green in Gressenhall. Picture: Matthew Usher.Action from the 2013 Pancake Races on the Village Green in Gressenhall. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2013)

The picturesque green was the setting for the series of races and competitors ranged in age from youngsters who had recently started school to the remarkable local character Ted Turney.

He had marked his 94th birthday the previous day and was determined to take part in the race.

'I enjoyed it and I always take part,' said the great grandfather of seven, who was celebrating his big day with a party later in the evening at the village social club.

Ted still sings at local old people's homes and also helps to run the village fete.

'When I first came to Gressenhall there was nothing going on and now there is lots happening.'

Brian Moore was one of the organisers of the pancake race and said Ted was a 'fantastic person in the village.'

He said the event - which also included a Valentine's coffee morning in the Reading Room - was put on to bring people in the community together and raise money for the chapel.

The children's race was won by Maisie Farrelly, 12, with Ruby O'Sullivan, 11, in second and Blaine Rix, nine, was third.

Mandy Webdale, who won the adults' race, said: 'We come every year and I think it is a briliant thing for the village