FIREFIGHTERS made a quacking start to a £30,000 appeal for two charities.

Fire crews from Bicester launched the fundraiser with a duck race on Sunday.

Participants sponsored a yellow plastic duck, numbered 1 to 150, before they were released into the River Ray, near the Swan Pub in Islip, near Kidlington.

The first duck to complete the 100-metre course was declared the winner.

Two races took place, raising £1,129 for the Fire Fighters’ charity and Help For Heroes.

Organiser Coral Davis, 20, a retained firefighter at Bicester, said: “This was an event to raise awareness of the John O’Groats to Land’s End bike ride in June, where we aim to raise £30,000.”