One race that went flat as a pancake

One thing that often amazes me as I've travelled around the world is how unsafe other countries are. I've: -

• been on boats in Italy where they have let off distress flares in rough seas, without telling passengers what is happening;


• been close to the edge of steep cliffs in France with no protective barriers or warning signs;


• been almost mown down in Spain by herds (?) of motorcylists without crash helmets etc etc

I'm not sure that they have more accidents than in the UK, but whilst Ithought that they were governed by the same EU regulations, they don't seem to bother quite as much.

In the UK we are oh so compliant.

Today an ancient pancake race has been abandoned because of health and safety laws and red tape.

The 600-year-old Shrove Tuesday do was revived by popular demand in 1998 at Ripon, North Yorks. But the Dean said it had now had become too pricey and difficult with rising police costs and a mountain of risk assessments to let kids take part.

The Very Rev Keith Jukes said: "It's sad." Fellow organiser, Bernard Bateman added: "Health and safety has gone too far. It's a shame these issues stop children enjoying such an event. "It has proved very popular in the past, with schools and businessesentering teams to race while tossing pancakes.