Messing about in rafts will be the order of the day this Sunday when one of the most colourful events of the year takes place on the River Dee at Chester.

The 40th annual Chester Rotary Charity Raft Race spectacular will be held on the Dee in the Groves on Sunday morning (July 12).

After making a big splash last year, flyboarder Jay St John will be making a welcome return this year and he will be entertaining crowds on the Dee from about 10am.

Fly boarder Jay St John

Race organisers say: “Our theme this year is Chester Through the Ages, Roman, Medieval, Victorian to modern times and we are expecting some quirky adaptations of this theme. Interest this year has been very strong and we are expecting a wonderful fun day whilst raising funds for deserving charities.”

The main beneficiary charity this year is Wirral and North Cheshire Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Craft will be launched from the Meadows for the start of the race at around 10.30am in groups of four. The 400 metre course takes the battling rafters under the Suspension Bridge to the finishing point by the Recorder’s Steps just above the weir.

As in previous years there are prizes awarded for the crew with the fastest overall time, ladies and hostelry categories together with best interpretation of the race theme.

Entrants so far include many local restaurants and hostelries including Bar Lounge, Upstairs at the Grill, Hickory’s Smokehouse, Handbridge Pub and Dining together with many local and national businesses including BOX IT Document Management, Kennymoore ,CSA Group, Crane Bank Garage, CES UK, Scottish Power and many more.

Crafts bear such names as Chester Zooliganz, Handbridge Minerva, Modern Day Chester Romans, R-Team, Roman Rapids and Wirral Roodees.

Parking is available on the Meadows with a donation to the appeal and is accessed through Lower Park Road, Queens Park.

For the second year the main sponsors of the event are Survitec Group, Birkenhead based specialists in marine defence and aerospace survival technology.