Children and adults ventured out into the cold this morning (February 9) for Pancake Day’s most competitive event.

The sixth annual Waltham Abbey Pancake Race was held outside the library in Sun Street, with participants running up and down a track while frantically flipping their pancakes.

Before the children’s races at 11am, local companies put forward their best runners for the business races.

After the Epping Forest Guardian’s Joseph Flaig dropped out dramatically in the semi-final, Haci Arslan of the Apollo Café beat Sun Street rival Cameron Perryer of Duncan Phillips estate agent in the final.

Three-time winner Mr Arslan said: “It is a great event, I am very happy – I am the best in the Abbey!

“The others were good competition though.

“I’ll be back next year, of course.”

In the children’s final, three-year-old Charlie North narrowly beat his twin Oliver North to be crowned champion.

The event was organised by the Waltham Abbey Town Partnership, and aims to encourage people to eat and drink in the town centre.

Organiser Kate Towerzey said it was amazing the event has had six years with no rain.

She added: “We were very pleased with the business race.

“It is good to see how competitive they are, and it is nice to see people coming out.

“It is a fun community event and we hope it will continue year on year.”