ORGANISERS are gearing up for a charity duck race that could be the country's biggest.

In a week, more than 3,000 rubber ducks, each costing £1, have been sponsored for the Grand Durham Duck Race, which will take place on the River Wear, in Durham, on Sunday, November 2.

The Durham Marketing Initiative hopes to raise £10,000 through the event for Durham Mayor Ray Gibbon's charity appeal, and for St Cuthbert's Hospice, and WaterAid.

The first duck to the finish will win £750 for its sponsor, the second will win £250 and there are other runner-up prizes.

Companies can also sponsor larger corporate ducks for £25.

Richard Toynbee, the manager of the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and chairman of the Durham City Forum, said: "We have come together, as a city, to put on a spectacular event, which promises to be the biggest of its kind in Britain.

"Not only will it attract hundreds of people from all over the North-East, it will also raise money for three very worthwhile charities.

"I am delighted with the overall response we have received so far.

"We have already sold thousands of tickets and they have only been on sale for a few days.

"It just goes to show how generous the people in the North-East really are and, as a thank-you, we promise to put on an event worth every penny that people will not be able to forget in a hurry.

"After all, it is not every day you see 10,000 plastic ducks bobbing down the river."

The race will be run by students from the Durham University Charities Kommittee.

Tickets are on sale at Durham Tourist Information Centre, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, the Millburngate Shopping Centre, and from the Durham Student Union, in Dunelm House, New Elvet.