More than 2,000 people flocked to the banks of the River Thames this weekend for Marlow’s annual May Fayre – which organisers say was the best year ever.

Run by the Marlow & District Round Table, a sun drenched Higginson Park came alive on Saturday and raised around £8,000 for good causes in the area.

Dance and music groups were just a flavour of the entertainment on offer, with the barbecue proving so popular it sold out three times.

The annual duck race made a comeback and saw 1200 rubber ducks released on to the Thames and race to the bridge, with the winner scooping £500.

And staying true to tradition, deputy mayor Cllr Jocelyn Towns was at the forefront of the action in a rubber dinghy so she could catch the winning duck.

Cllr Towns said: “Marlow was so lucky with the weather on Saturday for the May Fayre, I don’t think I have ever seen the park busier, everyone turned out to enjoy the event.

“I travelled in the dinghy for the release of the ducks and to catch the winners, and though I nearly toppled over, I managed to right myself so didn’t end up in the water.”

Nick Skelton, of the organising committee, said: “Everyone felt it was the best event ever and was the best attended. It was the best May Fayre we ever had. It was a great day and the weather was fantastic – the best we have ever seen. We reckon we raise about a third more than we did last year.

“It couldn’t have gone any better.”

The Round Table will decide which organisations get the money over the course of the next year.

The group is now preparing for its next big event of the summer – The Marlow Regatta and Festival – in June where it will run a bar.