Hundreds of people packed vantage points overlooking the River Avon in Bradford on Avon to watch the town’s annual duck race finally take place.

The popular event went ahead in the town on Sunday, May 19 despite being postponed twice before.

Organisers previously said the river level was too high and ‘flowing far too quickly to safely go ahead with the event’, so it was rearranged for Monday, May 6 after being cancelled on Easter Monday, before being cancelled a second time.

A statement on the town council website previously said: “This is rather unprecedented and has only happened once before – that we can remember.

“We know this was a disappointment to many, but we have a duty of care to our volunteers – particularly those on the water.”

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Wiltshire Times: Town wardens tip the bags full of yellow ducks from the town bridge to start the race. Image: Trevor Porter 77068-5Town wardens tip the bags full of yellow ducks from the town bridge to start the race. Image: Trevor Porter 77068-5 (Image: Trevor Porter)

All ducks purchased already were honoured for the new date and participants could win prizes, such as vouchers for swimming lessons.

Westbury Garden and the Mckeever Bridge between St Margaret’s Street car park and Church Street were chock-a-block with people straining to catch a glimpse of the plastic ducks on the river.

Those watching let off loud cheers as the town council’s town warden team let loose 1,000 yellow rubber ducks and 50 blue business ducks into the river.

Wiltshire Times: Canoeist makes sure all the ducks set off down the river. Image: Trevor Porter 77068-6Canoeist makes sure all the ducks set off down the river. Image: Trevor Porter 77068-6 (Image: Trevor Porter)

After the event, a council spokesperson said: “Thanks to the volunteers at the local canoe club – no ducks managed to wander further downstream.

“Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s event. We cannot wait to see you all again, next year.”

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Wiltshire Times: Crowds watch the start of the duck race. Image: Trevor Porter 77068-7Crowds watch the start of the duck race. Image: Trevor Porter 77068-7 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The 2024 event was sponsored by local children’s swim school Puddle Ducks and each of the 1,050 ducks taking part were sponsored by a range of people including residents, visitors and Bradford on Avon businesses.

The winning duck was sponsored by Betty Rogers, with James Bennett's duck coming second and Chloe Flower's duck finishing third. The lucky duck winner was Mrs Ford.

The Business Duck Race, offered businesses the chance to compete against one another and dethrone last year’s winners Dible & Roy also returned.

This year Meraki beat Dible & Roy to bring home the Business Duck glass trophy.