THE sight of Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Thunderbirds and a church all floating down the River Wye can only mean one thing - the annual Monmouth Raft Race.

The 48th edition of the St David’s Hospice Care fundraiser started in usual madcap fashion with competitors having water bombs thrown at them as they made their way to the start at the town’s rowing club.

But, one team had come prepared for the soaking and had built a fire hose into their raft, firing back at spectators in retaliation.

The work of St David’s Hospice Care was not the only thing being celebrated, with Robert Thomas from Magor marking his 30th birthday.

He and colleagues from TXO Systems, Chepstow had raised £2,000 for the cause and Mr Thomas said he couldn’t think of a better way to mark the milestone and workmate Rhys Davies’ 36th birthday.

He said: “It’s a real fun day, the second time we have taken part and you have just got to get stuck in. Lots of rafts tip over and there’s lots of mayhem. We’re just hoping our raft floats and gets to the end where we can have a barbecue and few beers to celebrate.”

Staff from Capita Symonds, that operates around Gwent also had a team and Simon Nicholls joked: “We’ve had eggs and flour thrown at us as we’ve gone past. We haven’t named our boat, but I think the Titanic might have been a good name.”

The crowds cheered the rafts down a 6.5 mile stretch of the river with one of the most impressive floats a church complete with a vicar at the front.

It finished at Tump Farm, Whitebrook where entrants of the Monmouth Rotary Club-organised event enjoyed a barbecue.