HUNDREDS of people went quackers in Bewdley as visitors and residents lined the river for the annual New Year's Day duck race.

The race saw more than 600 entrants dropping their ducks into the River Severn as they raced from the bridge to Lax Lane Ford.

Event organisers, Kidderminster and District Lions Club, were kept busy throughout the day registering ducks from 10am until the start of the race at noon.

The winning duck belonged to 10-month-old Evan Pountney, of Bewdley, who took the spoils ahead of Oliver Mullard, while the best-dressed duck was awarded to sisters Grace and Evie Pouney, whose pink duck was decorated in feathers.

For winning the race, Evan and his family were awarded £10 in prize money and a trophy, which was presented to them by Mayor of Bewdley, Derek Killingworth.

Mr Killingworth said: “The duck race was a terrific morning. Everyone that was there had an absolutely great time.

“A tremendous amount of money was raised for charities.”

The event is set to raise about £1,800, which will go to the supported charities of the Kidderminster and District Lions Club.

Ron Cross, president of the club, said: “What a fantastic morning we had.

“The numbers were slightly down from previous years, but we were still able to draw a crowd from all over the Midlands.

“Our volunteers worked hard for us and the people who came were as generous as ever.

“The money we raised, about £1,800, will go towards helping people who are less fortunate then ourselves.”

For the first time in three years, the event was back to its traditional New Year’s Day timeslot, after being postponed to Easter Monday in the previous two years due to dangerous water conditions.

When asked by The Shuttle whether the event’s date will be altered for 2016 due to the lower turn-out this year, Mr Cross said Easter Monday will always be “plan B” and the event will continue to take place on New Year’s Day.

The town's first duck race took place in 1985 and has grown in popularity ever since, attracting many visitors as well as residents.

Participants were able to rent a duck on the day or enter a home-made swimmer made of feathers, plastic or wood.

Other organisations helping out on the day included Wyre Forest Canoe Club, which collects the ducks and declares the winner, Bewdley Rotary Club, which help with road closures and the Severn Area Rescue Association, which provides safety cover on the river.