Calne Lions Club are over the moon after record numbers turned out for this year’s duck race.

The brilliantly bizarre annual event, which sees thousands of plastic ducks bob their way down the River Marden, attracted an estimated 4,000 people.

And, against the odds, the club also raised more than £7,000 for charity.

Lions president Julie Shearsby said: “It went so well, we were delighted with the whole day.

“The atmosphere was lovely, as it always is, and the weather held out for us.

“We estimated there were about 4,000 people there, which was amazing. We have members of the club who have been involved in the race for the past 26 years and said that they have never seen it that busy before.

“The community stalls had a really good day, too, by all accounts, and we had some lovely vintage cars from the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum on display.

“All in all, the event has been a real success and the result is a credit to everyone involved.”

The main race was won jointly by Denis Cooney and Tanya Mason. The corporate race was won by Thornbury Surfacing and the school race by Buttercups Nursery.

The best dressed duck award went to Aladdin’s Cave toy shop, who decorated their duck as a Hot Wheels car.

There had been a worry that the event would fail to generate the cash for charities that it has in the past, especially with slow ticket sales and its main sponsor pulling out.

But the organisers were very pleasantly surprised to see them match last year’s efforts.

Mrs Shearsby said: “We were so pleased with the amount that we managed to raise, which was a similar amount to what was raised at the last duck race in 2011.

“It was especially good considering that we lost more than £500 of sponsorship.

“One of the winners, Mr Cooney, donated his £200 prize back to the club, which took us over the £7,000 mark, which was a lovely gesture for which we are most grateful.”