More than 200 schoolchildren got flipping on Tuesday as Ilkley town centre came to a standstill for a series of special Pancake Day races.

Organisers of the second annual Ilkley Rotary Pancake Races said the event was bigger and better than last year, as The Grove was closed to traffic to make way for the event.

And dozens of disadvantaged youngsters are expected to benefit from the event as the Rotary Club of Ilkley, who organised the event, collected donations from a large crowd who had gathered to watch the races.

This year’s races had a red, white and blue theme to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympics and its torch procession through Ilkley later this year, while some competitors dressed up for the races, as last year.

As well as children taking part, there were two adult races, including a team of over-50s from the Clarke Foley Centre in Cunliffe Road, Ilkley.

Rotary club member Geoffrey Maldwyn-Jones, one of the event’s main organisers, was pleased with the turn-out of racers and the crowds who lined The Grove to watch.

“It all went very smoothly,” he said.

“It was bigger and better than last year and there were more than 200 competitors and the adult races too.

“We had two adult races and the team from the Clarke Foley Centre too. Someone even suggested next year we could add a race for people on motorised scooters.”

Winners of the two schools’ finals were Hope Throp of Ben Rhydding Primary School and Sam MacKinnon-Evans of Ashlands Primary School. Victories in the adult races were claimed by Chris Thornton, a teacher at Ashlands Primary School, and John Skinner, from Dacre, Son and Hartley.

Pancakes for the races and spectators were made by staff from Bettys Tea Rooms, while the event was also sponsored by Mortens of Ilkley, Dacre, Son & Hartley, and Stray FM.

Money raised from the event will go to the Rotary charity KidsOut, which organises fun days out for deprived children of school age.