UNLUCKY ducks had their annual race cancelled at the weekend - because of the wet weather.

Organisers of the event, in Saltburn, east Cleveland, said that although the 200 ducks would have loved the torrential rain, spectators might not have been so enthusiastic.

The race, featuring 200 plastic ducks in Saltburn Beck, is organised by the Yorkshire Ridings Society as part of the Yorkshire Day celebrations.

But each year, catastrophe seems to hit the event.

Organiser Chris Abbott said that this year it was too wet to put up stalls and expect visitors to attend.

He said: "The weather last year caused a problem as the wind was going upstream. The year before, there was hardly any water in the beck. And the first year we had problems with the wind, too.

"This year it was the rain. It seems we can't win. We were badly disappointed."

The winner of the race will now be drawn from a hat.

Money raised will be donated to North Riding Group's fund for restoring historic boundary signs.