Bootle shoppers took part in the making of a 90-metre banana split with 700 bananas, 360 litres of ice cream and 100 cans of whipped cream in a giant, sweet-toothed family fun day.
The event at the Strand Shopping centre was part of a two-day food festival which was organised by children’s charity Ykids and Not Just Cooking in a community scheme which promoted cooking for fun during October half term.
More than 200 residents gathered around a long line of tables to assemble the giant dessert and then ate it. Superhero Bananaman and people in banana costumes encouraged everyone to get involved.
CEO of Ykids, Claire Morgan said: “Everyone got stuck in, first we made the banana split and then we counted down from ten before everyone tucked in.”
“The children were delighted – it’s not often you see that much ice cream in one place and you are told you eat as much as you want.”
Other food-themed events took place throughout the day including a cook off between staff from the shopping centre and a Man V Food style competition between community police officers who attempted to eat the world’s spiciest foods.
A cookery book was also launched by the charity featuring local children’s recipes and titled ‘A Taste of Bootle.’ The money raised from sales went towards the charity which works with deprived children.
Head chef at Not Just Cooking Gavin Williams chose seven-year-old Daisy Mclaughlin as the winner of the best recipe with ‘My Mum’s French Onion Soup’.
He said: “It was just such a wonderful recipe, so much flavour.”She took home a 3DS along with a ‘Cooking Mama’ game and £150 worth of vouchers for her school St. Phillips Primary.
Strand Centre Manager, Bob Greenhalgh, said: “It was a great event, everyone was raving about it with nothing but positive feedback. We have to do something similar next year.”