A FLOTILLA of brightly coloured boats and bouncy castles met the crowds that flocked to Newbury on Sunday (July 24).

The annual Waterways Festival, which is now in its 48th year, saw the Kennet and Avon Canal and Victoria Park, awash with hundreds of people enjoying the stalls, games and refreshments on offer.

The event was based on the theme “Pirates of the Kennet and Avon” and many of the 18 boats bobbing gently on the canal were adorned with swashbuckling paraphernalia.

Revellers could also enjoy a trip on Newbury’s resident boat, the pirate galleon Jubilee, which ferried people on sun-drenched rides all weekend.

For those who preferred to keep their feet firmly on dry land, there was a host of stalls, selling local gifts and produce, as well as a funfair and land train for the children and a number of food and drink outlets, including the Kennet and Avon Brewery.

There was also live entertainment from the Kevin O’Regan Band, before the festival ended with its traditional duck race along the canal.

Throughout the day people could sponsor a plastic duck, which was then cheered along the race route in the 4pm finale.

The event is held every year to encourage people to use the waterways in and around Newbury and West Berkshire.