A HOST of strange home-made craft fought it out on the River Wear in a rowing competition with a difference at the weekend.

The Durham Raft Race was a popular attraction several years ago but had not been held for a long time until it was revived last year.

The Fire Services Benevolent Fund and Durham University Charities Kommittee (DUCK) staged the Durham Raft Race race, which was revived last year after a long time.

The race attracted 16 teams, most from Durham University colleges and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade. A team from the brigade's control room in Durham were defending their title and took to the water dressed as pirates in their raft Skullduggery. But although they made the final heat the winner was Houghton-le-Spring Round Table.

Organiser Gail Antcliffe said: "It was a lovely day and the weather held out. The raft race itself made £1,800, which will go to the benevolent fund, but the total will probably be about £2,000."