One town's Boxing Day tradition that's 'a bit of fun'

Phil Upton,BBC CWRand
Oprah Flash,West Midlands
News imageKenilworth Lions Club Two men are in orange inflatable vests are sat under a bridge with nearly 2,000 plastic yellow ducks at their feet. Above them there is a crowd of people in Christmas hats and four people are holding black upturned binsKenilworth Lions Club
More than 1,500 plastic yellow ducks are thrown into a brook for a race. The winner's corresponding ticket carries a cash prize

One town's popular Boxing Day tradition which sees crowds gather around a small brook will be taking place again this year.

The annual charity duck race at Abbey Fields in Kenilworth, Warwickshire sees more than 1,500 plastic ducks being released into Finham Brook.

Organised by the Kenilworth Lions Club, the tradition has carried on for more than 25 years and all proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to a local charity.

"We want to give people a bit of fun, it's a fairly gloomy world we live in at the moment and a bit of fun on Boxing Day will lift the spirit," co-organiser Sim Connor told BBC CWR.

News imageKenilworth Lions Club A man in a black hat and high-vis jacket is standing behind a white table filled with two rows of decorated plastic ducksKenilworth Lions Club
This year, 71 businesses have decorated a duck for the annual charity event

This year, 71 businesses from across the town will be taking part in a corporate race which sees decorated ducks also being released before the main race at 12:00 GMT.

Co-organiser Helen Keast added: "People are up for the fun, the community, the challenge of decorating a duck that supports their business and just the whole community spirit."

Last year, £8,145 was raised and handed to the Special Care Baby Unit at Warwick Hospital to help buy equipment.

News imageKenilworth Lions Club A silver plastic duck decorated with pink beads, glitter and a silver crownKenilworth Lions Club
The corporate races kicks off at 12:00 GMT
News imageKenilworth Lions Club A person in an orange high-vis jacket is walking through Finham Brook and a stream of yellow plastic ducks are in front of themKenilworth Lions Club
Ducks in Finham Brook, Kenilworth

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