A flipping amazing pancake race took place in Gravesend today – with Gravesend Messenger reporter Lizzie Massey battering the opposition.

About 40 people took part including staff from Asda, Discount UK, Tesco, the Gravesend Messenger, both shopping centre managers from Thamesgate and St George’s, NRG Gym, staff from the Grand healthy living centre as well as TV’s Apprentice winner Tim Campbell MBE.

Graham Long, town centre manager said: “It was tremendous fun. It’s the first time we’ve done it in years and it’d be great to do it every year. We had a good number of competitors and we raised nearly £100 with bucket collections.

“It’s good to see so many people out having a good time. I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who took part in this madness.

“Everyone showed great spirit, fun, camaraderie, and just a little competitive edge.”

It was due to be streamed live by Gravesham council in one of its first plans to screen live events via the internet. Unfortunately technical difficulties meant the race wasn’t broadcast.

Over five heats, competitors tossed their pancakes in frying pans along the route from Tesco down to McDonald’s.

Shafiq Ahmed, the founder of NRG Gym spondored the event. The gym will be opening in the old Gala Bingo site at the end of New Road in the coming weeks.

The final race saw our Lizzie, dressed as a cheerleader and spurred on by support from other Messenger staff, clinch victory after the first two over the line were disqualified for not flipping their pancakes.

Money raised will go to the British Heart Foundation.

Lizzie said: “I was so excited. I was really honoured to have received my certificate from the mayor and she even waved my pompoms.

Chief reporter Thom Morris, in the guise of the fourth Doctor actor Tom Baker, had to console himself with a certificate all competitors were given for taking part.