PUPILS, staff and parents went ‘quackers’ for the latest fundraising event run by St Bede CE Primary School in Winchester.

Its Home and School Association held a duck race on a stretch of the River Itchen in the North Walls Recreation Ground.

A stone’s throw from the school, the event drew more than 200 people to the riverbank on Saturday afternoon (May 26).

More than £1,000 was raised, with more than 1,000 yellow plastic ducks taking part at £1 a time.

The flotilla went bobbing sedately down the river, and while the course was only around 100 metres, it lasted more than 10 minutes.

Prizes were handed out for the first three ducks home. First place was rewarded with a £100 voucher for the Wykeham Arms pub in Kingsgate Street, Winchester.

Second place was £50, courtesy of Executives Online, and third spot was a £25 Amazon voucher provided by Winkworth estate agents.

St Bede head teacher Louise Fitzpatrick said: “We’re very fortunate to have such a wonderful community who support the school in so many ways and it is great fun to have a community event like this that brings everyone together.”

Sandy Turnbull, secretary of the home and school association, said: “It’s good that so many parents, children and teachers have come along to support this event and we’ve also been so lucky with the weather.”

The duck race, which is the first to be held by the association, was scheduled to coincide with the school’s 100th anniversary.

Organisers are now deciding whether to make the race an annual event.