Stand by your frying pan – it’s pancake time again in Hitchin town centre.

Hitchin Priory Rotary Club’s annual event will be bigger and better than ever, promise organisers, with a Market Place festival planned tomorrow and the traditional races taking place on Shrove Tuesday.

Spokesman Mike Mackenzie confirmed that the 17th annual festival will be raising funds for Rotary charities and for the Garden House Hospice, which is marking its 25th anniversary this year.

And a team of hospice fundraisers will be on hand for tomorrow’s Pancake Fayre, which starts at 9am, selling cakes and home-made produce.

Also represented will be new North Herts bereavement support charity Stand By Me, as well as stalls offering pancakes, hot dogs and mulled wine, games including skittles and catch the rat, and bric-a-brac, book and tombola stalls.

Entertainment will be provided by the children of the Staveley Theatre Academy in the morning and by the Market Theatre Singers in the afternoon, with commentary and music throughout the day from After Dark PA.

Tuesday’s hotly-contested races in the High Street have attracted a record number of runners, and six separate sprints will be held from 11.40am.

The winner of each race gets a trophy to keep until next year, and there will also be prizes for the first and second home in each race.

There will also be a prizes for the best-dressed male and female runners in the fancy dress events.

All this will be complemented with fresh pancakes, hot dogs, mulled wine and more, in the square throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

Mike said: “Many local businesses have given tremendous support – through sponsorship, advertising in the brochure and provision of various goods and services – and help has also been given by other local Rotary clubs.

“It’s now up to the people of Hitchin and around to do their bit.

“Come along and contribute to the success of the festival by enjoying all that is on offer: have fun, sample the goodies and support the hospice.”