A cascade of decorated eggs is set to race down a Dorchester street to raise money for charity

The stage is set at Friary Hill in the county town for the Easter showdown.

The young and young at heart are being encouraged to prepare their eggs for battle on Saturday, April 8, between 2pm and 4pm.

Organisers have said that all eggs must be laid by chickens and be hard boiled – or they will smash. Every one must have a bright marking or decoration to distinguish them from the flock as they tumble down the hill. Unofficially the road will be closed for the two hours of the egg roll and organisers said that residents had been very supportive of the event, with a couple even offering to help make cakes and run a tea stall.

The new event was the idea of Mayoress of Dorchester Anita Harries, and town crier Alistair Chisholm has helped to organise the race.

Participants are being encouraged to gather at the bottom of Friary Hill near to the mill stream to watch the eggs as they rumble down. Organisers have said professional egg releasers will be deployed at the top of the hill to start the eggs on their downward journey.

Mrs Harries said that everyone did Easter egg hunts and so they wanted to do something a bit different and do an egg-rolling derby.

She said: “Just come along, it’s a bit of fun – there will be prizes, a children’s and adults’ prizes. If we get some really good decorated eggs we will give prizes for the best decorated egg for adults and children.”

She added: “It’s just a bit of fun, it’s just a couple of hours. It’s just something different. It’s going to be fun.”

The event will raise money for the Mayor of Dorchester’s charities, the Social Stroke Club, the Keep Military Museum and Dorchester Poverty Action Group.

Town crier Alistair Chisholm said he had spoken to local residents about the unofficial road closure and everyone had been ‘really supportive.’ He said: “There’s a lot of good will. We have had a number of community events in this part of town.”

Mr Chisholm added there was a good community spirit and encouraged everyone to come down and join in the egg roll.

He said: “We are going to have some fun.”

It costs just £1 to enter an egg. Entrants simply need to turn up on the day with their hard boiled eggs decorated and ready to roll.