IT WAS a fine day for duck racing in Wroughton today as dozens of villagers crowded down to Willow Brook Gardens to watch the battle of the bathtub favourites.

Every year, the village goes quackers for the race, when hundreds of rubber fledglings struggle their way downstream to celebrate the traditional spring bank holiday.

This year proved as eventful as ever, with a memorial race to parish councillor, Mike Hinder, among the other three traditional contests in the 19th rendition of the annual challenge.

Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn, of Perry's Lane, was among the many villagers who turned out for the annual event.

She said: "We did have fears with the weather on Saturday that the duck race would actually take place on Perry's Lane, but fortunately the skies have cleared and we've been dodging clouds instead.

"The duck race is always a big event in the Wroughton community calender. A number of residents work very hard to make this event a success and it is always well attended.

"This year we also held a memorial race to commemorate Mike Hinder, who was a parish councillor for a number of years and sadly passed away last year. I think he would be very pleased to know he had been remembered in this way at the Duck Race.

"Many old friends and new friends alike come along to watch the duck race. This year there was also live music in the Ellendune Centre and a number of stallholders showcasing the best of local businesses.

"A big thanks goes to Vision 4 Wroughton and the Willow Brook Gardens Team fro all their hard work to keep this part of the village lovely so we can keep holding events like this."

As usual, The Abigail Taylor-Silk Race, a race for children which is in memory of a young villager who lost her battle with cancer, kicked off proceedings at 2pm.

This was followed at 2.45pm when local businesses competed for the Business Challenge Shield. The best decorated duck also received an award.

At 3.30pm was the adult round, or Mike Smith Memorial Race, named after the event’s founder.

This year there was also be a fourth race, in memory of a popular local farmer who died in May last year.

Paul Hurst, chairman of the Wroughton Parish Council, who helps organise the event, said: "This year we've introduced a few changes. Last year a long-standing parish councillor, Mike Hinder, died, and at the funeral his family held a collection to go towards the duck race.

"So this year after all the other races there will be a sort of joke race, where people have to design or make something that will float. The winner of that race will receive the Mike Hinder Memorial Cup.

"As usual there will also be 20 decoy ducks, which are life-size ducks, for the third race. Businesses pay £25 for them and decorate them. In the past we've had ducks decorated as cows by the butcher's and we've also had one with a Barbie doll on its back as a jockey.

“It’s really fun and it’s for local children’s groups. The groups write in and apply for some money.

"We raised £700 last year with only seven big ducks and since we have sold 17 this year so we are hoping to get more.”