Of course, this Shrove Tuesday, you could mimic Atherstone, Warwickshire: play football.

After two hours a klaxon is sounded, and the stewards search the pile of bodies to find out who is clutching the ball.

The brave winner gets to keep the ball, which one of the game's organiser Howard "H" Taft said was patented and specially made each year.

Mr Taft told BBC News: "We always have injuries; it's part and parcel of the game - bloody noses, cuts and bruises, black eyes, that kind of thing.

"We've never had any serious injuries though, as far as I know."