A Dorchester primary school's first Dorset Knob throwing event has been hailed a success as the world record is nearly broken.

The Prince of Wales School hosted the event on Friday, April 29 with children and adults from across the school taking part.

The event came after a local festival was cancelled for the third year in a row.

Dorset Knob-throwing contests traditionally involve competitors hurling a Dorset Knob - a hard biscuit - as far as they can. The furthest distance thrown at the event was 26.7 metres by the school's basketball coach, coach Luca - Luca Dronyk. This was just 2.7m short of the world record throw of 29.4m - 96ft - which was set in 2012.

Headteacher Gary Spracklen said: "The Dorset Knob biscuit is part of our local cultural heritage. It's something to be celebrated and each year many of our children enjoy attending the Dorset Knob Throwing Festival.

"With the festival cancelled, for the third year in a row, we don't want our children to miss out. That's why we added Dorset Knob throwing to the curriculum and hosted our very own Dorset Knob throwing event for families her at The Prince of Wales School.

"The event has been a great success and we look forward to running it again next year."

Reflecting on the event, Year 4 pupil, Charlotte, said: "We love everything about Dorset here at The Prince of Wales School. In our lessons we already learn about the international significance of the Jurassic Coast, the life and work of Thomas Hardy and we become national experts on one of the most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe, Maiden Castle.

"Our work on the Dorset Knob biscuit has built on our knowledge and appreciation of all things Dorset. Everyone had great fun competing in our event and it was great to see coach Luca get close to the world record."

Asked if other schools could get involved, Mr Spracklen added: "It would be great to see other schools locally embracing the Dorset Knob and hosting their own throwing events. Perhaps we could set up a Dorset Knob throwing schools league with home and away fixtures.

"I'd love to hear from any schools that would like to get involved."

Dorset Knob background

The Dorset Knob started life sometime before 1860 when the Moores family began baking in West Dorset, according to a Moores biscuit maker.

After the day's bread baking was finished, it was the custom to make Dorset Knobs by adding butter and sugar to the leftover dough and hand rolling them into small buttons. They were then baked in the dying heat of the bread oven to dry them out like rusks.

The Dorset Knob was originally named after hand-sewn Dorset Knob buttons that were still being made in the last revival of the once-thriving cottage industry.

Knob throwing rules

• The rules for a knob throwing contest are:
• Three Dorset Knobs per go, furthest knob thrown is measured
• Use only Dorset Knobs provided
• Standing throw from marked standing point
• Underarm throwing only
• One foot must remain on the ground during throwing
• Distance of the furthest knob only measured within the designated throwing zone, which is five metres wide and 32m long, marked in two metre zones, with use of measure in between marks to determine distance thrown
• Dorset Knob measures at final resting place
• If Dorset Knob breaks upon landing, it will be the umpire's decision of final resting place