Annual Pancake Day race takes place at Leeds Minster

Leeds Minster’s annual pancake race took place in honour of Shrove Tuesday.

By Joe Cooper

Published 25th Feb 2020, 17:00 BST

Updated 26th Feb 2020, 13:04 BST

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The date is part of the Christian calendar marking the eve of Lent - 40 days of fasting and prayers before Easter.

Pupils from St Peter's Church of England Primary school in Leeds participated in the races.

Shrove Tuesday was historically held so people could use up their supplies before Lent began on Ash Wednesday.

Pupils from St Peter's Primary school, taking part in pancake races at Leeds Minster.

The word shrove comes from Old English for shrive - to confess sins.

On Shrove Tuesday, people confess their sins and it is believed that pancake races came from women rushing to church before the noon cut-off time, clutching their half-finished pancakes, according to the Diocese of Leeds.

Primary school