SCORES of people will take to the River Avon in Chippenham on Saturday as they do battle in a dragon boat race.

Among them will be a team of teachers and support staff from a Calne school who are raising money for charity.

The 17 racers from St Margaret’s Preparatory School will be sponsored to take part in the event to help Hop, Skip and Jump which provides respite care for children with special needs.

The school has been raising money for the Swindon based charity all year and hopes the efforts of its dragon boat team will add an extra £500 to the total.

Reception class teacher Kim Callaway and Year 5 teacher Sarah Giles are organising the team which will take to the River Avon at Monkton Park.

They will compete against other teams as they paddle their 20ft dragon boat along 250 metres of the river at Monkton Park to the sound of drums.

Mrs Callaway said: “I think it is going to be great fun and lots of pupils and parents have said they will come and watch.”

The team had to pay £399 to enter the race, organised by Chippenham Wiltshire Vale Rotary Club, and most of this was raised by a sweet and cake stall held at the school.

It will be the seventh dragon boat race in the town. Last year the race was won by a team from Corsham, who completed the course in one minute 13 seconds. But Mrs Callaway said although the St Margaret’s team had not yet been putting in any special training, they were focusing on raising lots of money for Hop, Skip and Jump. Teams are encouraged to wear fancy dress and the school team will be wearing costumes in the school colours of blue and orange, plus straw boaters.

Donations to Hop, Skip and Jump can be made at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/stmargaretsdragons