A POPULAR annual raft race is in jeopardy as it is facing cancellation this year if a new launch point is not found in the next few weeks.

Members of the Kidderminster and District Lions Club, which organises the River Severn Raft Race, desperately needs to find suitable launch site before the end of this month, after a request to Severn Trent to use Trimpley reservoir was turned down after a four-week delay.

The event has been running annually in mid-May for more than 25 years, raising more than £12,000 for charity each year.

It normally takes place along the River Severn from Arley to Stourport but the traditional launch point from the West side of the river at Arley is no longer available for the event.

Colin Hill, club president, said members would be “very disappointed” if this year’s event had to be cancelled.

“It’s a major fund-raising event on our lions calendar,” Mr Hill said, “It would be missed because it’s important to our fund-raising - when you consider the funds we donate locally to other causes.”

He added if a launch point was not found by the end of the month it would be too late to run the event as the rafts had to be built.

“We have to run the raft race in May before the fishing season,” Mr Hill said, “It was going to be held on May 13 this year.”

He added a suitable launch site needed vehicular access, space to park around 60 vehicles and trailers and access to the river.

A gently-sloping bank is also needed at the site otherwise a crane would have to be used to get the rafts safely into the river.

The event at the launch site would run from around 8.30am until noon on a Sunday morning.

Anyone who owns or knows of a suitable site should contact 0845 833 7483 or kidderminsterlions.org.uk.