Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday or, lapsing into English, Shrove Tuesday. Your last chance to eat sugar, butter, eggs and flour for a month. For the first time it will be celebrated in Borough and Bankside with a Bike Parade.

Starting at 1pm, decorated bikes, included disabled-accessible bikes from Wheels for Wellbeing, will travel a short route through Bankside and Borough, taking some Mardi Gras colour to the Tate. The exact route is still under discussion but experienced cyclists, abled and dis-abled are needed to marshal the ride plus some arty/crafty types to decorate the bikes.

The day will round off with a free Mardi Gras Pancake Party. Children are invited to come after school from 3:30 to 5pm for pancake flipping contests, fresh pancakes, live music and a chance to ride the decorated Mardi Gras bikes. The party will take place next to The Fruit Tree on Great Suffolk Street, SE1 1PE.

Experienced cyclists are needed both to ride the accessible bikes and to join in on their own bikes. The Parade will be marshalled and riders with experience of guided group cycling are particularly needed. Children, sadly, are not allowed on the Parade but can try the accessible bikes at the Pancake Party. All riders must register in advance.

To take part, apply via the website https://se1mardigras.wordpress.com or email hmdigitalprojects@gmail.com.