One of the town’s favourite events returns next week and it shouldn’t be missed.

West Bay will welcome the annual RNLI raft race next Thursday, with thousands of residents and visitors expected to flock to the coast.

Groups of friends or colleagues and members of charity groups and organisations will take to the River Brit in their homemade rafts and battle it out to see who can make it up the river and back first.

Crowds will line the river and around the slipway, armed with water guns and balloons ready to drench the competitors.

Rafts rarely make it back in one piece - with some breaking and splitting up as the team enters the water - with participants regularly dragging their broken creations behind them - but it’s all part of the fun!

But the team who have made the best raft and make it back to the slipway first will be crowned the champions.

Last year, the team that made it home first was Huck Nets, closely followed by Bridport Round Table.

The best dressed in the competition went to The Cherry Tree team, who all dressed as strawberries to navigate the ‘Berry Ferry’.

The most entertaining team was Bridport Building Supplies and the team with the top sponsorship was the Lord Nelson pub.

The RNLI fundraiser, taking place on Thursday, July 25, promises to be a great event for all the family and an evening filled with fun.

The race starts at 5pm, but cream teas will be served in The Salt House from 2pm.