A RAFT Race is to be one of the highlights of the two-day River Festival to be held on the River Avon at Evesham on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13.

The raft race will take place on the Saturday and open to teams building their own rafts, with no flat tops on canoes or dinghies allowed, and teams should consist of four or six people.

Festival organiser Hazel Hanlon said: "The race on the river will be from the town slipway downstream to the Evesham Rowing Club, and first over the finishing line wins."

She added: "We think this will add a bit of extra fun to the Festival which always attracts a lot of narrow boats and cruisers to the town to take part in the various competitions over the two days."

Thousands of people are expected to line the river banks on the Saturday evening for the spectacular procession of illuminated craft.

Entry forms for the raft race are available from Hazel Hanlon, Sankey Marine, Worcester Road, Evesham, Tel 01386 442338.