Thousands of plastic ducks ready for annual race in Hereford on the River Wye
Hereford City Rotary Club is holding its 'Big Hereford Duck Race' today (30 August), which raises funds for charities and international appeals
A large group of plastic yellow ducks are set to take over the River Wye in Hereford later today (30 August).
Hereford City Rotary Club is holding its annual duck race at Hunderton Bridge, which will see around 6,000 enter the water.
The club regard it as its main fundraising event of the year, with all the money received from people sponsoring a duck given to help charities in the areas and also in aid of international appeals.
Over £15,000 was raised last year, rotary club president, Ron Pearce, said it is always an enjoyable occasion and well supported.
"The public love it," he said.
"It's good fun, we're all volunteers, we're just a bunch of friends having fun, volunteering, and raising money for people who are less fortunate than ourselves."
On the plan they have in place to stop any of them getting lost on the river, he added: "We have permission to put a boom across the river and the Hereford sea cadets at the end of the race collect all the ducks with their big nets and deliver them to the side of the river.
"We then load them into big canvas bags, take them back to our storage facility, and sort them out and then let them have a good rest ready for next year."
Another race will see 200 green plastic ducks sponsored by businesses take place, with it all scheduled to start at 3pm by the bridge.