ROTARIANS are out in force in the town selling tickets for the annual Great Ilkley Duck Race to be held on Saturday, April 20.

The event, which is organised by Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club, will be held on the River Wharfe when up to 6000 yellow ducks, bought by members of the public for £2 each, will be launched from the New Brook Street Bridge at 2.30pm. The first six yellow ducks to the finish line will win prizes - £200 for the winner, second £100, third £75 and the next 3 ducks £50 each.

Rotarians will have their sales gazebo at the Saturday Grove Market on April 13 and outside Tesco on Sunday, April 14. On Duck Race Day tickets will be available on The Grove and at the Riverside Hotel until 1pm and at the New Brook St Bridge until 2pm so that last minute ducks can be prepared for the Race.

“If you want to beat the queues on the day then buy your duck early,” said Rotarian Chris Jones. “Come to the sales days above – or you could buy ducks online on our website – search Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary.”

The main race is preceded by the Business Duck Race when 100 red ducks bought by the local business community will be launched at 2.15pm.

“The businesses supporting our Red Duck Race have got us off to a flying start and we give them a big shout out of thanks for their great generosity in support of this race,” said Rotary Club President Peter Mate. “And with the public behind us for the Yellow Duck Race, as they have been in previous years, we hope to raise well over £10,000 for the good causes we support in and around Ilkley.”