THE Rotary Club of Barry will host their new charity fundraising event at the end of the month.

They will host a Dragon Boat Race in Cosmeston Park - thought to be the first event of its kind to be held in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Racing involves rowers sitting side by side in long canoes with a helm to steer and a drummer sitting up front, beating out the rhythm.

There is still time to register to join in the event on Saturday May 28.

Teams already registered include Glenbrook Gladiators and Redrock from the Glenbrook Inn; Leisure Time - a Cardiff travel company; Barry and District Spartans from B&D Scooter Club; and teams from the catering dept of Cardiff and Vale College; Barry Yacht Club Rowers; British Airways Maintenance and a team from the town council. Organisers hope to have 12 teams by race day.

KCS Transport of Aberthaw, Cater Leisure (Cosmeston cafe owners), Vale Aggregates, Dow Corning, and private sponsors have made the event possible.

Anyone wanting to sponsor or make a donation can visit https://mydonate.bt.com/charity/search.html and search for Barry Dragon Boat Festival.

Paul Halstead, president of Barry Rotary Club said: “We already organise the annual Firework Fiesta on Barry Island and over its 35 year history have raised tens of thousands of pounds for worthy causes. We would like this event to develop in the same way so that it becomes a major date in the Vale’s summer calendar.”

This event is being professionally run with full safety support. Money raised in sponsorship of the rowers will go 50 per cent to their team's chosen charity and 50 per cent to support the Rotary movement.

To find out more visit barrydragonboatfestival.co.uk or call John Shapland on 07743 426270 or email Robin Pitcher on robin.pitcher@talktalk.net or phone 029 2051 4051.