So the fun-loving mayor of South Ribble thought it would be a cracking idea to join in with a kiddies sports day.

Complete with his gold chains, Barrie Yates took up the challenge of an egg and spoon race at Hutton Village Hall, near Preston.

But, blaming a dodgy spoon, the father-of-two put a crafty thumb over his egg to hold it in place.

Unfortunately for him, his trick was caught on camera by an eagle-eyed photographer.

Despite the thumb-trick, he still only finished in fourth place.

The Preston North End fan, who lives in Higher Walton, near Preston, said: "They gave me a droopy spoon.

"It was one of those shallow ones so I thought I'd keep hold of it and run with it.

"The lady who gave me the spoon said 'put your thumb on that because it's a bad spoon' so I took her at her word.

"When you look at the other lads, they're in their 20s and I'm 61. That's the first race I've been in since my school days.

"They threw the challenge down but I don't think they expected me to take it. They got a bit of a shock.

"I'll have a do at anything as long as it's all in good fun."

Coun Yates, a quality engineer for exhaust manufacturers Bosal, opened the Hutton Playgroup sports day before being roped into the activities.

He said: "It was all good fun anyway. The mums and dads joined in and all the children got medals. It was a really good day."

The Conservative councillor, who represents the Samlesbury and Walton ward, took up the job of mayor in May, with his wife Kathleen as consort.

He has had a colourful political career which started as a Labour councillor in 1991.

The former Leyland Motors inspector then joined the Idle Toads political party with Coun Tom Sharratt.

But, following the local elections last year, he announced he was quitting the party and joined the ruling Conservative group.

As mayor, he hopes to raise thousands of pounds for St Catherine's Hospice, the North West Air Ambulance and South Ribble Scouts over the coming months.