A VILLAGE had a quacking time over the weekend.

Hundreds turned out to Barrow Bridge for one of the village's sporting highlights of the year.

And said organisers the annual duck race went swimmingly well.

Barrow Bridge Bridge held its fourth charity duck race in a stream running through the picturesque village

Carolyn Rigby, chairman of the leadership team at Barrow Bridge Mission, said: "The weather was gorgeous.

"We had around three to four hundred people come to the duck race to watch 12 races with 20 ducks taking part."

And it wasn't just children who were cheering on their ducks, adults also took great delight in sponsoring their own duck for just £1 a race.

This year the ducks were called after popular children's film characters, including from Frozen, X-Men and other films, adding a bit of drama to the day.

Carolyn said: "There was a just enough water for the duck to float and race!"

She added: "It was a great atmosphere with people out and about in the village."

This year, money from the duck race will go be divided between Bolton Hospice and Zac's Youth Bar in Farnworth, to help fund a trip for young people to Soul Survivor, a Christian festival taking place in Stafford.

Prizes were awarded to the owners of the winning ducks.

Also open was a special pop-up cafe at Barrow Bridge Mission for people to enjoy lunch and refreshments.

The pop-up cafe, which is run by the same people who run it at All Souls in Astley Bridge will also be open for the next two Saturday for visitors to the village and for local people.

Carolyn said: "The duck race will be back next year at around the same time."

Barrow Bridge Mission is part of St Peter’s Parish, Halliwell. In previous years, the duck race has helped to raise funds to fix the roof the building at Barrow Bridge Mission.

As well as holding church services, it offers Bible-based teaching as well as holy communion and a healing service. Children’s teaching is also available. For more information, go to stpetersparish.info