NORTHWICH River Festival organisers are confident that the third annual event has 'smashed' previous fundraising efforts.

The festival last weekend, July 13 and 14, drew in thousands to the town centre and Barons Quay – with the Rivers Weaver and Dane in the spotlight.

From 22 Dragon Boat teams, Morrisons Gadbrook's 'Morribobbers' came first, ahead of Concise Technologies’ 'iPadlers' and Davenham Cricket Club’s 'DCC Dragons'.

IN PICTURES >>> Northwich River Festival 2019 makes a splash

Ducks on the Dane saw a record amount of entries, and families flocked from as far away as Northern Ireland and Surrey.

Alongside live music, street theatre, boat trips and charity and trade stalls, the Liverpool Pirate Brethren, Mid Cheshire Stand-up Paddleboarders and Canis Major Newfoundland Dog Water Rescue Team entertained crowds.

The chairman of Northwich Rotary Club’s River Festival committee, John Walton, said: “With money still to come in and bills to be settled, it’s too early to say for sure, but the feeling is that we will have smashed last year’s fundraising effort, as well as raising the profile of the town even more.

“We know for certain that there were families from Northern Ireland, Surrey, Lancashire and Yorkshire who had made the journey to Northwich especially for the event, so we hope that the town’s traders will recognise that fact and get behind us even more for future years."

Plans for next year’s festival, to be held on July 11 and 12, will be announced soon.

See full results at northwichriverfestival.org.uk