HUNDREDS of crews will converge on the River Wear in Durham for the annual showpiece of the North-East rowing calendar this weekend.

The 169th Durham Regatta, dubbed The Henley of the North, will see races on the river every two minutes from 8am to after 6pm tomorrow and Sunday.

More than 550 crews are expected to take part, from as far afield as Amsterdam, Holland, although the majority are from clubs, universities and schools in the region.

Most racing will be played out in front of crowds gathering along the city's Racecourse, along a 700-metre stretch of the river between Baths Bridge and Brown's Boathouse.

Several events will cover a 1,800-metre course, ending near Prebends Bridge.

The blue riband event will be the elite men's open category, for The Grand Challenge Cup, with the final expected to be at about 1pm on Sunday.

Trophies will be presented in the Town Hall, at 8pm. Regatta committee veteran, former chairman and president Frank Humphries will perform the honours.

Regatta secretary Malcolm Proud thanked the people of the city, both traders and the public, for their support.

Admission to the riverside footpath is £2 for adults, £1 for children, and free to OAPs and the disabled.