Duck race off because of a lack of water

An annual village duck race had to be cancelled for the first time in its history because the dry weather has meant there is not enough water in the village rhyne.

Uphill duck race – which has been a highlight in the Weston-super-Mare village for eight years – was due to take place this Sunday as part of the local fun day, but will now have to be postponed until the autumn.

Each year organisers set off plastic 300 ducks from the bridge over the rhyne – a large agricultural drainage ditch which is normally full of water – at Old Church Road to float the 500 yards down to where it meets the estuary at Uphill Wharf.

But this year the race has had to be cancelled because the recent dry spell has seen water levels plummet.

Organisers have now postponed the event until September – to tie in with the village's scarecrow festival – and are hoping it will rain and refill the rhyne by then.

Uphill Village Society chairman, Stewart Castle, said: "Obviously we are very disappointed that the duck race has had to be postponed as it was a very popular event and raises lots of money for the charity Children's Hospice South West."