THE organisers of the third annual Grand Durham Duck Race hope the event will have raised as much for charity as last year.

The race, which involved 20,000 plastic ducks being pitched into the River Wear and racing a short distance, was held earlier in the month.

The Durham City Forum says that, so far, £8,000 has come in from sponsorship of the ducks and that they are on target to equal last year's total of £9,431.

Forum chairman Richard Toynbee said: "It was a fantastic day out for all the family and it was a great sight to see all the people lining up along the bridge and the River Wear.

"I would like to say a big thank you for all who helped us to arrange the event."

The sponsor of the winning duck, and winner of the £1,000 first prize, was Andrew Grieve, of Van Mildert College, Durham

The second prize, of £300, went to Jennifer Bradshaw, of Sunderland, and the third prize, of £200, went to Rebecca Shorley, from St Chad's College, Durham.

The winners received their cheques before the switch-on of the city's Christmas lights.

The money raised by the duck race will go to the St Cuthbert's Hospice Key Appeal, the Mayor of Durham's appeal (for the Treetops children's ward in the University Hospital of North Durham and the Gala Stage School), Durham University Charities Kommittee and the WaterAid charity.