Ducks make splash for cash

11:16am Wednesday 4th June 2008

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HUNDREDS of plastic ducks made a splash in Kidderminster on Saturday to raise almost £600 for the Shuttle/Times & News Back on Track Appeal.

The annual fun event, organised by the town's carnival committee, saw several hundred ducks launched from Tesco's Bridge into the River Stour by Wyre Forest MP, Dr Richard Taylor.

The winner of the short course downstream was number 129, bought by Carole Morgan, of Cradley, near Malvern, who received a £50 Co-op voucher.

Second place went to Bewdley accountant, Tim Giles, who won tickets for the West Midland Safari Park and Lucy Reeves, from Worcester, snapped up tickets for the Severn Valley Railway when her duck came in third. The fourth prize of £20 of Wilkinson vouchers went to Stourport Hockey Club vice-president, Paul Lashford, from Stourport.

Organisers were relieved to find calmer waters this year after last year's launch was cancelled because the river was swollen to dangerous levels following torrential rain.

The carnival committee chose to support the £25,000 Back on Track Appeal this year to help re-equip the Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic Club and Stourport Hockey Club after the devastating arson attack destroyed their base at Stourport Sports Club.