The River Thames was lit up with a stunning display of colour at the weekend as the Bourne End illuminated boat parade made a spectacular return.

A procession of boats decked out with lights and decorations made its way up the Thames on Saturday evening (September 28) as hundreds of people watched the spectacular display from the riverbanks.

Boat-owners covered their vessels in sparkly lights and decorations before the parade in the hope of winning an award for the best design.

The boats met at the Spade Oak Reach near Cookham before proceeding down to the Bounty Pub opposite Bourne End Marina.

The illuminated parade was started in 2015 by Cookham resident Chris Taylor and has since become a popular fixture in the calendar with visitors.

It started with 14 boats entering - but that number has got higher and higher each year as the event gains popularity. As well as being a fun family event, it also raises vital cash for charities and this year it helped support the Longridge Activity Centre in Marlow.

Longridge is an outdoor activity centre for children and offers kayaking, canoeing, abseiling, rowing and more.