An army of rubber ducks will be released onto the New Bedford River on Saturday as part of a fund-raising duck race.

Organisers of the race are expecting up to 300 ducks to take to the start line at the Three Pickerels pub, with the £50 top prize going to the owner of the duck which travels between two bridges the quickest.

The event has been organised by Mepal and Witcham Pre-school together with the Three Pickerels pub, with all funds raised being donated to the pre-school and the Mepal and Witcham School Friends Committee.

Chairman of the pre-school, Joanne Rose, said: “We have an afternoon of family activities at the pub, with bouncy castle, raffle, games, barbecue, face painting, starting from 12pm, with the main Duck Race at 1.30pm.

“We’re currently selling numbered ducks at £1 each, and all proceeds made from the day will be split between Mepal & Witcham Pre-School and Mepal & Witcham School Friends Committee, both of which work really hard to fundraise for the children in both settings.

“We hope that the event will not only reach out to the families of those children in either setting, but to the wider community as well, and with potentially 300 ducks on the river, it should be a great family afternoon out.”