THE first Northwich River Festival has been hailed an overwhelming success by organisers.

The event, which included the annual regatta staged by Northwich Rowing Club, took place on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival was organised by Northwich Rotary with support from Northwich Rowing Club, Northwich Town Council, Inland Waterways Association and River Weaver Navigation Society and The Canal and River Trust.

Guests enjoyed a host of entertainment over the weekend, including the Dragon Boat races and a charity duck race.

John Walton, chairman of Northwich Rotary, said feedback for the event has been positive.

He said: “It was a brilliant weekend. A great crowd of people from Northwich and the surrounding areas came.

"Everybody seemed to enjoy it. There was a great turn out and a superb atmosphere.

“It was a great spectacular for Northwich.

Mr Walton confirmed the festival will return next year.

Mr Walton thanked all of Northwich Rotary’s partners that helped make the River Festival a success.

Clare Briegal, regatta chairman, said: “We’d like to offer our congratulations to Northwich Rotary for creating what was a wonderful two-day festival for the town.

“Northwich Rowing Club is delighted to have been a part of it with our own regatta, and we appreciate the support we had from everybody that came – I hope the competitors and spectators enjoyed is as much as we did.

“I’d like to pay tribute as well to my fantastic committee and army of hard-working volunteers – too many of them to mention individually – from umpires to tea-makers, marshals to administrators.”