HUNDREDS of plastic ducks were carried off in a storm-swelled River Wharfe at the annual Burley-in-Wharfedale duck race last weekend.

The launch went ahead on Father's Day despite torrential rain in the weeks beforehand and around 2,000 spectators turned out to watch the race down the River Wharfe.

However, the usual stroll down the river turned into a sprint as people tried to keep up with their ducks in the fast flow.

Many of the ducks, moving faster than in any of the previous eight races, slipped through the volunteers waiting to catch them at the end of the run and sped downriver towards the Otley boundary.

Organiser Tom Sumner said: "The river quickly took hold of the ducks and they were carried on past the finish - and on, and on. We now expect some of them to have reached the North Sea! We believe there are approximately 200 to 300 missing and would ask anyone finding the ducks to return them."

Most of the ducks in the race were caught and will be renumbered for next year's race. The first duck through the line was Cecilia White's, netting her the £100 jackpot. Second was Lesley Downs' and third was Jennifer Brewis', who won £50 and £25 respectively.

The race and the teas on the village green afterwards raised £1,400 for the Christmas fairylight fund and more than £850 for the local Scouts and Guides.