Mayor of Newbury to open Waterways festival

An hour after the festival opens to the public, mayor, Arthur Johnson, will officially open the festival at 11am.
Family fun will continue until 5pm - following an unmissable highlight - the duck race, starting at 4pm, when more than a thousand plastic ducks will bob along the canal, attempting to win sponsors a prize.
Narrowboats began to line up along The Kennet & Avon Canal in the park on Friday morning (pictured) in anticipation of today's festival - the theme of which is diamonds and gold, relecting both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and organiser’s, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s Golden Jubilee.
A spectacular display of colourful and decorated narrowboats will include historic working boats, Brighton and Nuneaton, with a cargo of coal.
Victoria Park is set to be transformed, the canal side likely to be packed and the park filled with stalls, activities and family entertainment.
“Despite the soggy summer, we are determined to run a fantastic summer festival celebrating our wonderful canal,” said Rob Dean, Festival Director.
Visitors can enjoy a boat trip on the trust’s narrowboat, Jubilee, departing from the canal wharf throughout the festival weekend – with chance to look inside a range of narrowboats, both ancient and modern.
Other attractions will include a funfair and land train, food and refreshments and games, while local jazz duo, Idle Words, will entertain with mellow summer sounds.
The Newbury Waterways Festival is open from 10am to 5pm.