A RECORD number of people flocked to Bradford on Avon for the annual town duck race on Easter Monday.

Glorious sunshine saw more than 700 ducks enter this year's race, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, with prizes being donated by local businesses.

Ruth Warren, from the town’s Chamber of Commerce said she was delighted at the turn out of this year’s event.

She added: “The town was packed and I am sure the weather helped. We had a number of people who came specifically for the duck race and it is a well-known thing for the town.

“It is a win-win event and I think we managed to raise double the amount of money for the Christmas lights than we did last year.”

More than 1,000 people lined the River Avon to watch the race with ducks being launched from the historic town bridge before floating downstream to the finishing line at the Riverside Inn.

Members of the Bradford on Avon Canoe Club collected the ducks and nudged wayward ones in the right direction.

Nicky Carter, who owns Art is in the Name, organised this year’s event and said: “I think it is a mixture of things that have made the day a success, the weather being one. It was such a fun thing to see and I think people really enjoy seeing it, especially the children.

“This year it was a beautiful day and the ducks took their time this year to get to the finish line. It is a really enjoyable day and you never know what to expect. The event brought a lot of people into the town which is brilliant especially if they had a cup of tea or had a look around the shops.”

The winners are yet to be announced but once the numbers have been compiled then prizes from the Castle Inn, Ruby Red Wines, J Alex Brown, Art is in the Name and Budgens will be allocated to the sponsor of the first three ducks and the sponsor of the duck in last place.

The money raised will go towards the Christmas lights fund.