Bungay's annual two-week summer festival got under way this weekend, with the Bigod flag raised above the town's iconic castle.

Eastern Daily Press: The Great Bungay Duck Race on the River Waveney next to Falcon Meadow. The puddle duck fancy dress race. July 2016. Picture: James BassThe Great Bungay Duck Race on the River Waveney next to Falcon Meadow. The puddle duck fancy dress race. July 2016. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2016)

In a short ceremony on Saturday, festival chairman Simon Thompson said the town's business association was 'very proud' to have put together the two-week programme of events, which includes reading groups, behind the scenes tours of Clays Printworks and a mystery ale trail.

Raising the flag to signal the official start of the festival, town Reeve Eamon Gaffney wished the waitingcrowd, who turned out despite the rain, 'two weeks of fun and frolicks.'

The first event of the festival then kicked off - a children's fun day by the castle, which saw the town's youngsters take part in sack races, egg and spoon races, dressing up races, a scarecrow race, football dribbling races and water races, all organised by members of the Bungay Black Dog Running Club.

There was also a tug-of-war which everyone joined in with and a dancing display by members of the Centre Stage dancing school.

Yesterday, businesses and individuals from Bungay and the surrounding area did battle in the town's annual duck race.

Held at Falcon Meadow, dozens of ducks lovingly decorated by local companies cruised down the river Waveney, with volunteers in canoes following the entries and creating a wave to spur them on.

And in the end it was Fen Farm Dairy's duck - decorated to look like a cow - which crossed the finish line first.

The afternoon also included a race of smaller ducks decorated by individuals and families, a miniature duck race and prizes for the best-decorated ducks.

Trustee of the Falcon Meadow Community Trust Sally Harrington said: 'It went very well, we had about 45 business ducks from wonderful people who support us in the town and individuals and families from aged two to about 70 entered their ducks as well.

'The ducks have been a great success, lots of people have had a great deal of fun decorating theirs.'

Proceeds from the event, which included activities for children and charity stalls, will go towards the upkeep and improvement of facilities at Falcon Meadow.

Are you holding a charity event for a good cause iwn Waveney? Email polly.grice@archant.co.uk