SUMMER showers could not dampen the spirits of hundreds of supporters who cheered on pupils from Worcestershire primary schools rowing in the Worcester Bellboat Club Regatta.

Year 5 and 6 youngsters from Oldbury Park, Kempsey, Northwick Manor and St Clements schools rowed against each other in the regatta on Friday evening on a stretch of the river by Worcester Rowing Club.

It was the third time the Worcester Bellboat Club had organised the event, which saw members of the Sunday Club dress up as pirates to add to the fun.

The Sunday Club is for pupils of schools without their own rowing clubs and meets every Sunday morning between 10am and 11am during the summer.

"There was a good turn-out - there were a lot of parents cheering the children on," said Malcolm Upward, club treasurer.

"The crowd was probably around 200-strong. Even the showers didn't put them off. They just put up their umbrellas and carried on."

Seven teams of eight children and two adults competed against each other and their times were recorded.

The times from all the races were added up and the two teams with the fastest times competed against each other in the final, with Kempsey B taking the trophy, with Oldbury Park A as runners-up.

There was also a final between the two teams with the slowest recorded times, with Northwick Manor the winners and St Clements B team the runners-up.

Every entrant will receive a certificate, due to be presented in their school assemblies.