Waterways Festival being held today

A flotilla of boats will moor up at Victoria Park for the annual event, organised by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, decorated for this year’s theme of ‘midsummer madness’.
Boats started arriving for the destival on Friday, including the workboat

, which is used by volunteers to care for the canal, and people can enjoy a ride on the pleasure boat Jubilee throughout the weekend.
Visitors will also have a chance to look inside a collection of narrowboats and a 70ft barge, some of which will be available for holiday hire.
Crowds will be kept entertained with a series of stalls, a funfair and a land train with music being provided by local saxophone quartet Group Sax.
The Festival will conclude with the traditional duck race where more than 1,000 plastic ducks will float down the canal to win their sponsor a prize.
Last year’s event saw thousands of people flock to the park, and John Ross, of Ash near Basingstoke, scooped the award for Best Dressed Boat, which was decorated in the theme of ‘Diamonds and Gold’ to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
The free Festival will be open to the public at 10am and run until 5pm today with the official opening taking place at 11am.