TEAMS will don fancy dress and take to the water for a charity raft race next month.

Up to 24 rafts, each manned by up to six crew members, will race along a 300m-long course on the River Wear in Durham City on Saturday, June 7, in this year’s Durham Raft Race.

Each team will be raising money through sponsorship, with the proceeds to be split between The Firefighters Charity, the Great North Air Ambulance and Combat Stress.

The race is being organised by New College Durham and The Firefighters Charity.

John Robson, one of the organisers, said: “We are pleased to be running this popular event once again and we hope that lots of people will come down to the river to support the teams who are raising money for three fantastic charities.

“It promises to be a fun-packed and entertaining family day with lots for spectators to do on the river bank.”

The entertainment will include a bouncy castle and various stalls and the event will run from 10am to 5pm.

Teams must sign up by Monday, June 2. All participants must be aged 18 or over and able to swim at least 25m. All rafts must be built before race day, self-propelled by paddles or oars and cannot be made of polystyrene.

For more information, call John Robson on 07799-860-820 or email: jrobson@ddfire.gov.uk