A CHARITY raft race along the River Wear took place in glorious sunshine on Saturday.

The race, organisation by the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund, Durham University Charity Kommittee and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, involves rafts being paddled along a short stretch of the river alongside the Racecourse, in Durham City.

Fourteen teams of four, many from the fire brigade and the university, took part in the competition - and for the second year in succession, Houghton-le-Spring Round Table emerged triumphant in the final, finishing ahead of three other craft.

Firefighters from High Handenhold fire station, near Stanley, entered for the first time and won the fancy dress prize for their Viking outfits.

Organiser Gail Antcliffe said: "It was absolutely fantastic. It is the third event we have staged and we have never had such good weather. We couldn't have had better.

"There were hundreds of people watching on the riverbanks and 14 teams actually raced - three didn't make it to the starting line. There was a lot of rivalry and there were some excellent rafts.''

She said the event raised about £3,000 for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund and that a race would be held again next year.

"The teams will be thinking about their new craft for next year's race and they will want to know the specifications of Houghton-le-Spring Round Table's raft," she said.