More than 600 ducks have been sent out to schools and local businesses in preparation for this year's Beccles Duck Race.

The annual event is taking place on the earlier date of August 1, organised by Beccles Rugby Club for the second year, and will include races for small ducks, corporate ducks and remote controlled ducks.

New for this year is a raft race which will take place along the same stretch of water where the ducks paddle to the finish line.

Entries for the raft race have now closed with 10 teams from local businesses signed up to take part. The teams are Beccles Rugby Club, Aqua Gas, Lee Roberts Flooring, Tesco, Seasons Gym, Wine Vaults, Elphick Builders, Cripps Developments, Keith Hall Fencing and Premiere Garage.

Gareth Hadridge, international ticket secretary for the rugby club, said: 'We have had a brilliant response so far.

'Ducks have now gone out to all the local schools who asked for them and we sold about 60 ducks at Sotterley Fair a few weeks ago and 100 at Tescos on Saturday.

'We will be selling them again outside the King's Head Hotel in Beccles tomorrow from 10am to 4pm and next Saturday too.'

As always, participants are encouraged to decorate their ducks with whacky colours and designs to make them stand out from the crowd.

The winner of the small duck race will walk away with £100 prize money, with £50 for second place and £25 for third place.

The prize for the winner of the corporate race will be a meal for four with a bottle of wine at Upstairs at Baileys in Beccles.

There will also be prizes for the remote controlled race and raft race.

The main sponsor of this year's Duck Race is Ovamill Ltd, with the raft race sponsored by Read Brothers Ltd.

Mr Hadridge added: 'We would like to say a big thank you to all of our sponsors and everyone supporting this year's event.

'There are still spaces for businesses to enter our corporate race, with free food and drink on arrival provided by Mark Kinzel catering.'

The Beccles and Bungay Journal has already signed up to enter a duck into the race.

The event will kick off at noon at Beccles Quay with the raft race at 2pm, the duck races at 4pm and live music into the evening by local band Totally Wrecked. There will also be a demonstration by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, live music between the races from Full Throttle and stalls and rides for youngsters to enjoy.

Funds raised will support Beccles Rugby Club and the development of a new youth community hub to provide a safe meeting point for the players.

Anyone who would like to enter a corporate duck into the race can contact Mr Hadridge on 07920114269 or email ghadridge@btinternet.com

For more information visit www.becclesduckrace.org