Centuries-old new year tradition returns to town

Amanda White/BBC A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a blue jumper and scarf mid-action throwing a sweet in the air with a crowd of children around her waiting to catch. They are on a street corner outside a shop.Amanda White/BBC
The fun starts at 09:00 GMT on 2 January outside Driffield's railway station

Children in an East Yorkshire town are getting ready for a centuries-old annual tradition.

Driffield's historical "scrambling" involves crowds of children chanting a rhyme for sweets and coins in the streets as part of New Year celebrations.

It will take place on 2 January, starting at the railway station at 09:00 GMT. Children will then make their way around the town centre.

Driffield Town Council, which is hosting the event, said the "wonderful tradition" harks back at least 200 years.

The first edition of the Driffield Times, dated 3 January 1860, featured the event which was later revived by the town council's heritage committee in 1995.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Related internet links