PEOPLE in Christchurch went quackers for one of the borough's biggest summer fund-raising fixtures.

The Lions Club annual charity duck race in Bridge Street made a real splash this year, with hundreds of people, including many holiday-makers, placing bets on the plastic fowl hurled off Town Bridge into Mill Street.

Owners of the first four ducks to cross the finishing line downstream shared out a total of £195 between them - and the event itself raised over £1,000 for local charities into the bargain.

Current Lions president Bill Sykes said: "This was well up on recent years, and most of the tickets were sold on the day. It was hard work, but well worth it in the end."