A North-East city hopes to make another big splash for charity on Sunday when it holds its second Grand Duck Race.

Twenty thousand yellow plastic ducks will be tipped into the River Wear from the buckets of three diggers on Elvet Bridge, in Durham City. The first one over the finishing line at Kingsgate Bridge will win its sponsor a £1,000 prize.

The event, which could take the record for the biggest duck race, is being organised by the Durham City Forum with Northumbrian Water and the Durham University Charities Kommittee (Duck).

The first race held last year raised £6,000 for Durham Mayor's charity appeal and the charity Water Aid.

Ten thousand ducks were sent down river, although not all of them had individual or corporate sponsors.

Volunteers from St Cuthbert's Hospice, which will share this year's proceeds with Water Aid, have been busy numbering the new ducks.

Spokeswoman for the organisers Jill Dodds said: "We'd like to see if we could sell off the ducks. We will put all the 20,000 in the water, whether they are sold or not.''

The event takes place at 1pm and ducks cost £1 or £25 for companies. They are available from Durham tourist information centre, the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, and, tomorrow at the Milburngate Shopping Centre. They can also be obtained by calling Ms Dodds on 0191-375 0416.