HOW times have changed!

In 2001, it was the most innocent thing in the world to dump several boxes full of brightly-coloured plastic into a steam and watch it all float away.

This was the Easter Plastic Duck Race in Blewbury that year, all held to raise money for the restoration of the church tower.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Playclose after church on Easter Sunday where 500 plastic ducks competed for cash prizes along a 100-yard stretch of a fast-flowing stream.

St Michael's bell-ringers, who organised the event, arranged five heats before a final that was won by John Barrance.

Mr Barrance, father of one of the bell-ringers, collected a £50 first prize. Brian Honeysett won the name the duck competition.

Our photographer David Fleming was there to capture the action, having just raced over from the Easter egg rolling in Chadlington.