That’s quackers! Police swoop on Cotswolds village... to halt a charity rubber duck race

IT WAS a beautiful day on the village green, where families were gathering to raise money for charity.

And although their plan was simple – just race a few rubber ducks across the river – things were about to get rather complicated.

For just moments after the ducks hit the water, the police swooped. To the astonishment of those taking part, officers arrived to ‘break up’ proceedings after a complaint that local bylaws were being broken.

The organisers of the duck race, at Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, were told they should have asked the parish council’s permission for the event – and had further contravened regulations by parking bikes on the village green. So after the first 100 rubber ducks had floated serenely down the River Windrush, festivities were halted, reportedly to avoid the risk of anyone being arrested.

Yesterday Jonathan Dixon, 45, who took his two young sons to watch the duck race, described the intervention as ‘bonkers’. He said: ‘Everyone was having a great time and the kids were chasing the ducks as they went down the river. Suddenly a police car came along and the event was abandoned. Apparently the races broke some old bylaw, some villagers got upset and someone called the police.’

He added: ‘Talk about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The officers looked pretty embarrassed about it, and I can understand why. Surely the cops have better things to do than stop a rubber duck race in the Cotswolds?’

The village green is owned by the parish council, and an application for any event must be made in writing, along with payment of a £50 fee. Only ‘ exceptional’ events like memorial services are allowed to take place on Sundays.

The duck race, which was held on a Sunday afternoon, raised £518 for Blood Bikes, a charity run by volunteer motorbike riders who operate a free blood and medical equipment delivery service for NHS facilities 24 hours a day.

But local shopkeeper Carol Teece, 61, insisted: ‘The bylaws are in place for a reason and must be respected.’ A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police confirmed: ‘Organisers of the race were given advice about permissions governing the staging of events on the green.’