"It was a wonderful day and we had about 2,500 people there," said Helen Dunridge, a clinic nurse at London Road Veterinary Centre, Lynn, and the Hollies, Downham, whose colleagues helped organise the event.

"It all started about eight months ago with a throwaway comment. We work very closely with Brambles Animal Sanctuary and Cats Protection and felt it would be nice to do something to raise money because they both do so much for the welfare of animals," she said, adding the money would be divided equally between the two.

Well-wishers rallied round to help sort out a few teething problems with Key and Pell, of Bexwell, providing a replacement when it was realised there had been a double booking of the curtain-sided lorry.

Strong winds nearly put paid to the duck race with the bobbing plastic figures about to head in the wrong direction. Holiday makers came to the rescue by securing their boats together and thrusting their engines into static reverse.

The ducks soon got the message and the race was on, with two canoeists helping to keep the stray ducks on course.

"We had a lot of good support from various people which all helped to make it a great success said Miss Dunridge, who says advice from local raft race organiser and charity fundraiser Ali Dent, was of great value.

"Next year we're talking of doubling up the raft race and the duck race, raising money for our own charities.

"It was a real community event, with a superb flyball dog team and lots of other attractions. Country Grounds Maintenance provided a tipper to get the ducks in the river, and we were given some magnificent prizes," she added.

Duck race winners were: 1 Pam Parish, of March, whose prize was a Piaggio Zip 50cc moped sponsored by C and A Superbikes, of Tottenhill; 2 Sophie Child, of Wisbech (£500); 3 Maryann Addison, of Lynn (a laptop computer sponsored by Anglian Computer Solutions); 4 Stacey Ely, of Stow Bridge, and 5 Chloe Gibson.