A RUBBER duck race and fun day in Brierley Hill has raised £5,000 for Mary Stevens Hospice.

More than 1,000 people cheered on the 600 ducks that were chucked in the canal on Sunday for the second annual Black Country Duck Race, which saw the winner take home £100.

The event was organised by The Tenth Lock pub and in the hours leading up to the race, staff at the Delph Road boozer ran a free family fun day, complete with children's characters, an outdoor ice cream parlour and gin bar plus live music.

Canalside Tackle sponsored the purchase of all 600 ducks so that every penny raised could be donated to the Oldswinford hospice, which supports families and patients battling the impact of life-limiting illnesses across the borough.

Pub landlady, Chere Griffin, said: “We love the hospice and it is our privilege to put events on like this for our community in support of families who are going through such difficult times.

"To know how much we've raised, and more importantly what that money will make possible, is actually quite overwhelming and we can only say thank you to everyone who has made it possible as it is always a team effort.

"We are supported in our fundraising by some truly inspirational people who give their time and services at the drop of a hat when we go to them with all of our mad schemes, and to see all that hard work make a difference to a family who really need it is so special.”

Amanda Bowen, the hospice's deputy head of fundraising and lottery, added: “Watching thousands of people stream through the pub to line the canal in support of their local hospice is a memory I personally will treasure for the rest of my life.

"That said, we intend to make it even bigger in 2019 so we hope all of the ducks are back in training ahead of next year's race.”