Fuel costs link to big sign-up for river race

Bewdley's regatta has received twice as many entries as usual - with soaring petrol prices leading to people looking at ways to enjoy themselves closer to home.

The annual pub and club regatta, organised by Bewdley Rowley Club, which will be held this Saturday from 10am to 6pm, usually has around 25 teams. But this year 43 crews have signed up.

Robert Jones, event organiser, said he believed the event, which draws from the whole of the Wyre Forest district, had benefited from people cutting down on long journeys due to high petrol prices.

He said: "This is the second biggest of our annual events.

"We also hold a regatta in July which was hit by the flooding last year.

"This has meant we have worked hard to publicise the pub and club regatta this year.

"However it has been said people are staying close to home which seems to have helped us as well.

"We are delighted to see such an interest and it should be a fantastic day."

The race is staged on the River Severn between the rowing club and Bewdley bridge.

The club has been training the teams during the last four weeks to compete in Saturday's race.