Pollution Fears Cancel Charity Duck Race

The annual charity duck race planned for the River Tutt in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, was cancelled. This decision came after concerns about sewage pollution in the river surfaced. Yorkshire Water's ongoing investigations in nearby homes led organizers to call off the event.

Organizers offered discounts to individuals who had pre-purchased rubber ducks for the race. The event, revived in 2019, had previously been cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic and in a prior year because of dangerously high river water levels. Previously, the race took place on the River Ure before moving to the River Tutt.

Simon Wade, a local pub owner involved in organizing the event, expressed his disappointment, noting the unexpected nature of such an obstacle. The duck race typically raises between £2,000 and £3,000 for local charities, with community members purchasing ducks to watch them race.