Wrexham AFC’s promotion hopes received a boost ahead of the new season as fans gathered to help raise extra cash for manager Dean Keates’ budget.

More than £40,000 has been raised through the club’s Build The Budget campaign so far and fans turned out in force to make a duck race at Nant Mill in Coedpoeth a success.

Fans paid £5 for each duck and a series of preliminary races were held with winners going into a super race.

Club director Spencer Harris said: “It was a tremendous idea for us to utilise some merchandise in the club to generate some additional revenue.

“Everyone had a great time and got to meet and have photos with our new team captain Shaun Pearson.”

Pearson helped release the ducks at the start of the race, while the Junior Dragons were prominently involved on the day.

Wrexham AFC commercial manager Geoff Scott said: “It want really well – the weather put a few off but we still had about 40 or 50 people there.

”People from all over the world bought a duck and I’d imagine we raised about £750.”

He added: ”Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us, it was a great day and everyone had fun. We are looking at doing it annually.”

Wrexham AFC will hold an open day on Sunday, July 30 at 10am. In addition to the club’s new away kit being launched there will be food, ice cream, facepainting and more.