Charity decorated ducks auction raises £5,500 for children’s charity Break

The decorated ducks that raced in the Grand Norwich Duck Race are auctioned to raise funds for Break at The Maids Head Hotel.Picture by SIMON FINLAY. (Image: Archant Norfolk.)

The colourful gang had attracted huge crowds when they raced each other in the Grand Norwich Duck Race earlier this month, and tonight 56 went under the hammer at an auction at Norwich's Maids Head Hotel.

Paddington Duck, Quackson Pollock and Geese Lightning were among the quirky characters up for auction and in total the event raised about £6,000.

Elliot Symonds was the auctioneer, and the duck that sold for the most money - an impressive £550 - was Bling, created by Martin Wall who also designed Bling the Dragon and the EDP's George the Dragon as part of the Break GoGoDragons! charity art trail around Norwich.

Sarah Bunn, from Break, said: 'It's been absolutely fantastic. The support that we get from people who come back to this event year after year and buy a duck is phenomenal.'

The annual Grand Norwich Duck Race is organised by Break in partnership with a number of other organisations, and each duck had its own sponsor.

Break has also joined forces with Wild in Art to bring the GoGoDragons! trail to the city.

Eighty-four friendly fire-breathing creatures can be found on the city's streets and each one has been decorated by a local artist and sponsored by a local organisation.

The GoGoDragons! landed in Norwich in June and people can follow the trail until September 5. Free trail maps are available at various venues in Norwich.

There is also a separate trail of 120 baby GoGoDragons! designed by local schoolchildren.

For all the latest GoGoDragons! news visit www.edp24.co.uk/gogodragons and www.gogodragons.co.uk

Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email emma.knights@archant.co.uk