COMPETITORS will sprint around gardens clinging onto cutlery at an eclectic Easter event.

Families in Abingdon will hurtle through picturesque Abbey Gardens holding onto an egg-topped spoon on Saturday.

Hand-eye coordination will be put to the test at the World Eggbert's Adventures Egg and Spoon Championships, which will also feature a colossal ostrich egg as part of a world record attempt.

Paul Gustafson began planning the event based around his popular children's book series Eggbert's Adventures.

The Abingdon author said: "Easter is a really important time of year but there's not much to do for children. They have a whole two weeks off of school but a lot of mums and dads don't have anything to do.

"We are putting on the event to get things cracking, it's a massive event for the entire family. This is the first time we've put it on so it may well be mayhem down there."

Children and adults can enter the 100m race to be in with the chance of winning a chocolate egg and a medal in their age category, ranging from four-years-old to over-65s.

They must bring along their own spoon and egg, which Mr Gustafson advised should be hard-boiled to avoid any runny yolk disasters.

The free event starts at 10.30am and also features a bouncy castle, puddle jumping, an obstacle course, face painting and crafts.

Mr Gustafson, who lives in the town centre, also wants to break the world record for racing with the largest egg and largest spoon.

The retired teacher said he has had a huge spoon made especially for the event and sourced an 'enormous' ostrich egg, with the challenge set to be tackled on the day by a weight lifter from a nearby gym.

The Egg and Spoon Championships are co-organised by Visit Abingdon, the company responsible for organising the the town's Business Improvement District (BID).

BID manager Julie Downing said: "It's something completely different. It will be a lovely day out in the beautiful Abbey Gardens."

Any eggs that end up making a messy break for freedom can be replaced with one of 400 donated by producer Stonegate.

Abingdon pub The Broad Face has pledged to boil the back-up eggs and will also have a food and drink tent on-site.

Mr Gustafson said he literally dreamt up Eggbert's Adventures while sleeping off jetlag in 2002, picturing two eggs running along the road.

The books are set in Eggland and star Eggbert the Egg alongside his friend Shelley, illustrated by artist Ray Mutimer of Postman Pat and Paddington Bear fame.

Competitors can enter for a race on the day or by signing up at eggbertsadventures.co.uk/egg_spoon_race.