IT’S anchors away for the annual Arley to Stourport Raft Race which launches on Sunday, May 15.

The charity fund-raising event organised by the Kidderminster and District Lions club starts at Arley on the west side of the river.

Competitors build their own rafts with crews of between four and 10 people.

They congregate in a field and carry the rafts the short distance to the launch point, where there used to be a ferry before a footbridge was built.

The route runs along the Severn for about eight miles passing through Bewdley at about the half way point. Many competitors take this opportunity to quench their thirst in the riverside pubs at Bewdley, although alcohol is not recommended.

The finish line is at Stourport Boat Club with the rafts being extracted from the river a little way down stream next to the rugby fields.

Sponsor money is donated to the County Air Ambulance.

For an application form, rules, maps and sponsorship details and to view photos from previous years visit arleystourportraftrace.co.uk/ or find Arley Stourport Raft Race on facebook.

Organisers told The Shuttle about the raft race by posting on our facebook wall so why not let us know what events you have got coming up?