OXFORD'S Lord Mayor Jim Campbell spent an hour lazing about on the river to launch a waterways festival, as part of Oxfordshire's Millennium celebrations.

Mr Campbell, pictured with wife Margie, called at the Aziz restaurant at Folly Bridge to publicise a series of activities on the county's waterways forming the Go With The Flow festival.

On May 7, there will be an Open River Day in Oxford, to pave the way for about 60 similar events between May and October.

Organiser Alex Martin said: "Everyone knows about riverside festivals like the Henley Regatta, but there are lots of smaller events which are not as well publicised.

"We have produced a calendar to let people know where and when they can attend these festivals, starting on May 7, when there will be Bangladeshi boat racing on the Thames between Folly Bridge and Iffley Lock. Boats from Swindon, Cheltenham and Oxford will also be taking part.

"There is also a schools' programme and a series of open days at boat clubs, where people are invited to try out canoeing, rowing, sailing or fishing. On June 23 to 24 there will be also be an open weekend at Farmoor Reservoir."

The festival is one of many celebrating 1,000 years of Oxfordshire in 2007 and is sponsored by Thames Water, First Great Western, Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

The Go With The Flow calendar is available from local libraries. Visit www.gowiththeflow.org.uk for details.