ELITE oarsmen and women from across the country, and even the Atlantic, are heading to Durham for the city's 170th regatta.

Non-stop racing will take place from 8.30am until 5.30pm, on Saturday and Sunday, over 700-metre and 1,800-metre courses on the River Wear.

Among the usual array of university boat club entries is one from the elite US seat of learning, Harvard in New England.

The Ivy League university will make up half of a four-man crew with two Durham rowers, while another prestige entry is from Thames-based Leander, the former club of five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave.

Regatta secretary Roly Metcalfe said there were already more than 250 entries for each day, with eights crews particularly prominent this year.

"It's been amazing how many eights crews are involved and in one event alone, the men's senior 3 eights, there are 19, so it's going to be pretty hectic."

The traditional blue riband event, the Grand Challenge Cup for leading fours crews, will be enjoying its 150th anniversary.

It will be presented to the winning crew by Margaret Halladay, the widow of Durham University principal and rowing enthusiast Eric Halladay, who died seven years ago at the age of 67.

There will also be the added attraction of 60-plus vintage cars on display on the racecourse, off Green Lane, plus plenty of refreshments marquees.

Admission to the riverside footpath will be £2 with concessionary prices available.

This year's regatta has the added backing of the Chase bar, recently-opened in the converted former Brown's Boathouse building on the banks of the River Wear.

Chase is the event's main sponsor after making a £1,500 donation to the regatta committee.