Coronation Street favourites, Kevin Webster and Molly Dobbs, missed the annual Grand Durham Duck Race despite being in the city.

The actors, Michael Le Vell and Vicky Binns, were in Durham to switch on the Christmas lights last week on what should have been the day of the duck race.

But, very high water levels in the River Wear scuppered the race and organisers were forced to cancel it for safety reasons.

However, Vicky and Michael, still wanted to support the event and had their photos taken with a giant plastic duck to remind people the event is going ahead this weekend.

In total 20,000 yellow plastic ducks will be tipped from a giant digger off Elvet Bridge in Durham City for the race to start at 1pm on Sunday.

Four good causes will benefit, WaterAid, Butterwick Hospice, The Durham Christmas Lights Appeal and The Durham Mayor's Appeal.

The event is organised by the Durham University Charities Kommittee (Duck) in partnership with Marketing Durham and sponsored by Northumbrian Water.

The person who buys the winning £1 charity ticket for the sponsored race to Kingsgate will win £1,000, second place wins £300 and third £200.