PUPILS from Stoke St Gregory Primary School relived a centuries old Pancake Day ceremony in the week of February 21, 1997.

The ancient custom of egg shackling is confined to Somerset and held annually at the school to mark the beginning of Lent.

The custom was widespread in the county around 150 years where the tradition has been maintained.

Every child in the school took along a fresh egg with their name on. The eggs were put in a sieve and shackled, meaning shaken, by headteacher David Blackburn and other members of staff.

The cracked ones were removed and the last one to withstand the ordeal was dubbed the master egg.

In 1997, Chelsea Morse, six, was the winner, and the runners up were Lisa House, eight, and Alex Fish, 11, who all received small cash prizes.