Peterborough Cathedral pancake race clergy nurse flipping injuries

The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston (left) and Canon Tim Alban Jones both took a tumble during the relay race around the cathedral precinct

Two clergymen were injured when they tripped over during a pancake race in the grounds of a cathedral.

The Dean and Vice Dean of Peterborough Cathedral were doing flipping well in the annual race when both fell.

One of them, Canon Tim Alban Jones, said: "The cassocks were probably incidental - we both slipped on the gravel and came off rather the worse for it."

Both were battered and bruised, but otherwise "absolutely fine".

Teams of four were taking part in the relay race around the cathedral precinct on Shrove Tuesday when the clergy came a cropper with their crepes.

Liz Hurst, cathedral spokeswoman, said: "The Vice Dean [Canon Alban Jones] was flipping his pancake when the wind caught it and he took a tumble. I don't quite know what happened to the Dean [the Very Reverend Chris Dalliston] - but they both went down."

"It all happened very quickly. One minute he was up and running with a pancake, and the next he was down," she said.

"He is recovering well, although he has superficial cuts and bruises and will probably look as if he has done a couple of rounds with Tyson Fury for a while."

Teams of four took part in the relay race

The race was won a team of tossing accountants from local firm Moore East Midlands.

Cathedral Pancake Race rules

• teams of four run in a relay twice around the outside of the cathedral building, aka the precincts

• runners must cross the finish line with their pancakes still in their frying pans

• runners need to stop in the Flip Zone and toss their pancakes five times, then continue to the handover point

• proceeds from the £20 per team entrance fee go towards the Norman cathedral's upkeep

Cathedral Pancake Race 2020 rules

Canon Alban Jones said: "If you're going to ask me what I'm going to give up for Lent, the answer is running."