Rye Raft Race setto draw big crowdsto the bankside

Several thousand people are expected to line the banks of the river, which is likely to become a battle-zone for flour and water bombs.

The accompanying Fete on the Salts is fully booked again with over 50 stalls and rides, including children’s’ go-carts, bouncy castle, barbecue, beer tent, ice-creams and live music all day.

The Fete opens at noon and the Raft Race starts at 2.30pm, with rafts assembling from 1pm. The Lions wish to remind people that entry to both the fete and the Race is free, although the Lions will be collecting with their buckets for charities, mostly local.

As always, all money raised by the Lions goes to charity, with nothing deducted for administration.

Conrad Freezer, of Rye Lions, said: “There has been great interest from raft teams this year and we are hoping for a large “fleet”. For safety reasons, it is requested that the public watches the Race from the East bank of the river and avoids the fishing boat quay. While welcoming a bombardment of flour and water both from crews and public, hard objects such as fruit and eggs must not be thrown .”