IT was a splashing good time for the hundreds who turned up for this year's Easter Monday duck race in Bradford on Avon.

The sponsor of the first place plastic duck, and winner of a giant Easter egg, was baby Lola Lantero-Pinder, who is only two weeks old. Organiser Jon Durrant said: "I don't think she'll be able to eat the prize herself but I'm sure there will be someone in the family to help."

More prize eggs went to second place duck sponsor Mandy Dunn and to Tom Biggs, whose duck raced into third place. Swimming along in last place was Nadia Medani's duck and she was presented with the booby prize a wooden painted duck.

Mr Durrant said: "It is quite shiny as it has been well polished and will probably last a lot longer than the Easter eggs." He said he was delighted to see an even bigger crowd than usual to watch the 465 ducks racing along the River Avon from the Town Bridge.

"The race got off just about on time and the first ducks got through in about 13 minutes," he said. "They were all very wet when they finished so went out to dry on the lawn. "They're having a little bit of freedom now as they're all looking a bit tired after the race.

Then they'll be bagged back up ready to be stored above the Quire shop until next year."

He thanked the 1st Colerne Sea Scout group for their help in picking the ducks out of the water and freeing any which got trapped during the race.

A donation from the profits will be given to Splash, a charity run by the police to provide activities for young people in Wiltshire.

  • Catch this week's Wiltshire Times for more great pictures of the duck race