THE River Dee was awash with noise and colour as competitors took part in the 43rd Charity Raft Race.

31 teams lined up to make a splash in the Chester Raft Race at the Groves.

Video and images by Simon Warburton

Organised by the Rotary Club of Chester, teams raced against the clock over an approximate 400 metre course starting just upriver of the Royal Chester Rowing Club, passing under the pedestrian suspension bridge to a finish on the north bank of the river just above the weir.

This year, teams, which included entries from local firms Tata Steel, Peacocks Garage, Hickorys Smokehouse, Chester Auto Services, and event sponsors SP Energy Networks, were asked to decorate their rafts on the theme of “great sporting events”.

Among the creative rafts included one with lifelike figures of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

As well as the race, crowds were entertained in the sunshine by Chester Rock Choir and a display by UK fly-board champion Jay St John.

There was also lots of food and drink available, including a hog roast,

The event supports the Countess of Chester Babygrow Appeal and other Rotary Club charities.