THE ever-popular duck race in Bude has raised thousands for vital local organisations.

The Rotary Club of Bude recently organised another hugely successful annual duck race as a central part of this year's Lifeboat Day event in the town. Four thousand ducks took to the water with a large crowd of local residents and visitors lining both sides of the Bude Canal.

The ducks set off near the Lock Gates Cafe heading for the finishing line opposite the Falcon Hotel, with RNLI crew members behind them encouraging them along. Three lucky ticket holders with the winning numbers scooped the cash prizes of £200, £100 and £50.

Members of the Rotary Club and willing helpers sold the tickets over two weekends before the event at various points in the town with the last ticket sold early in the afternoon of race day.

After meeting the costs of printing the tickets and awarding the prizes, the net proceeds of almost £3,800 were divided equally between the RNLI and the Rotary Club, to support the institution's vital work saving lives at sea and the club's wide range of charitable initiatives in and around the town.

Rotary Club president Alan Rainsley said “My colleagues and I are delighted to have arranged another very successful race raising funds for such worthy causes. I and the race organiser Chris Squire want to thank the many local people and visitors to our town who gave so very generously buying tickets. Thanks are also due to the RNLI crew members who kept order at the starting line and helped the very tired ducks out of the water at the end. It was wonderful to see the community come together again on such a special day.”