FOR centuries, buns have been thrown off the roof of Abingdon’s County Hall in a unique celebration of major occasions.

But those at the back of the crowd below have not had the chance to take home a souvenir bun as town councillors have struggled to lob the buns far enough.

So mayor Mike Badcock has teamed up with the town cricket club to organise the first Royal Bun Throwing Championship in April.

He hopes the charity contest will find the town’s top bun-throwers ahead of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.

Mr Badcock said: “At the last couple of bun-throwings the buns weren’t getting to the back and people were pushing forward.

“The last thing I would want would be health and safety to come forward and say we can’t do it any more.

“If the buns were reaching the back of the crowd, it would increase the enjoyment. It’s a spectacle so it has got to be done properly.”

The winner of the charity contest at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club’s Culham Road ground will join councillors for the Jubilee bun-throwing. The exact date has yet to be set, but the ceremony will take place over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend of June 2-5.

Mr Badcock said: “It is something unique to Abingdon. It’s one of those quirky English things we are famous for.”

He said money raised will go to the mayor’s charities – principally Didcot-based Army bomb disposal charity the Felix Fund, adding: “It will have a great outcome for the town and for charity.”

The championship could take place every two years, or ahead of a bun-throwing. Abingdon Vale Cricket Club vice-chairman David Binningsley had some tips for the best technique to employ to win the contest.

He said: “The guys that can win it are the guys who can throw it flat from the shoulder.”

He said it would be nice to involve more residents with the town tradition.