VILLAGERS flocked to the annual Tilford raft race on the River Wey as mini inventors put their knowledge to the test to see whether their imaginative homemade creations could stay afloat.

The raft race which coincided with the carnival-themed fete and procession on Tilford Green attracted in excess of around 1,000 people. Alongside the raft race visitors were kept amused with the 58 stalls dotted around the green, a dog show, a duck race, a tug-of-war competition and much more besides.

There was tough competition on the River Wey but in the end Steve Windsor sailed away with ‘Best Design’ after his ‘Slow Boat to China’ in the adults’ section impressed judges, while Iris Eldridge stole first in the children’s section with her ‘Bananarama’ themed boat.

The ‘Best Fancy Dress’ adults’ award went to John Fletcher with his ‘Flurescent Fruitie’s contraption and Tom Scott secured first place in the children’s section with his ‘Rainbow Rascals’ raft.

The ‘Fastest’ prize went again to John Fletcher in the adults’ section, after passing the finish line in four minutes and 10 seconds with his ‘Fluorescent Fruities’ invention.

And in the children’s section William Houghton stormed ahead of his fellow sailors as he raced to the finish line in five minutes and fifty-seven seconds aboard his Brazil-themed boat.