A POPULAR waterside event will be celebrated alongside a historic milestone.

The Heybridge Basin Regatta takes place this weekend and with this year marking 225 years of the Basin, there will be plenty of activities to mark the occasion.

Saturday’s events would have been familiar to a visitor of a hundred years ago. Smack racing, rowing events and on shore, cake making, and other competitions in the tent, finishing the day with the greasy pole. Sunday starts with the scavenger hunt for the children and an entertainer and then the serious business of welly wanging.

The highlight of the day is the raft race with a trophy for first home and a prize for best fancy dress.

Regatta day programmes are £1 and are now available from the Jolly Sailor pub and the Old Ship pub in the Basin. Entry is free.