Wednesday, October 1 was Lincolnshire Day and schools and local authorities in the county marked the occasion with special events.

The idea for a Lincolnshire Day stemmed from other counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where they have had their own day for some time.

On Wednesday, those participating in the celebration, flew the Lincolnshire flag, wore something yellow or organised events to demonstrate what is good about the county.

Many schools had taster sessions of food sourced from Lincolnshire as well as locally grown produce from this predominantly farming county.

Pupils at St Botolph’s Primary School at Quarrington were really enthusiastic about the event and, as part of their healthy eating, tried Lincolnshire sausages, Poacher cheese and Lincolnshire plum bread.

Teacher Leah Crampton coordinated the day at the school, where they raised the Lincolnshire flag outside and dressed in yellow.

She said: “We were finding out about the history of Lincolnshire and its famous people such as Margaret Thatcher, Sir Isaac Newton and Matthew Flinders, as well as looking at other aspects of the county, in particular Lincoln Cathedral and the story of the Lincoln Imp.”

Tastebuds delicatessen in Sleaford provided the cheese at a discount rate and Southern and Thorpe butchers of Ruskington cooked the sausages and provided them at a reduced price.

It was all part of the schools efforts to form links with local businesses.

Lincolnshire Day was also celebrated at The Paddocks Pre-school in Heckington, where pupils tasted Lincolnshire plum bread, homemade bread from Lincolnshire flour, strawberry jam from Heath Farm at Rauceby, Lincolnshire Poacher cheese, drinks from Belvoir Fruit Farms near Grantham, Lincolnshire sausages, home grown vegetables and Lincolnshire ice-cream.

The pre-school youngsters sang the Lincolnshire Poacher and looked at local photos and Lincolnshire publications, including the Sleaford Standard.

l The date October 1 is important in the history of the county.

It was on that date in 1536 that the Lincolnshire Rising started, when 40,000 men from the county rose up in rebellion over Henry VIII’s reformation.

They camped out at the cathedral and demanded he respect local churches and their treasures. The rebellion failed when the king’s forces were sent to quell them and the leaders were executed.