THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to the banks of the River Thames today as Oxford's boating clubs open their doors to the public.

Following on from the success of last year's Go With The Flow festival, boat clubs based at Donnington Bridge have decided to organise the first Boat Club Open Day.

Scores of boatmen in vessels ranging from traditional rowing boats to Venetian gondolas and Bangladeshi canoes will take to the water between 11am and 5pm.

Alex Martin, of City Barge, who is one of the organisers of the event, said: "The idea behind the day is to show people what a great time they can have on the river.

"There's just so much for people to do, from kayaking to canoeing, going in the gondolas or rowing, just getting into boats and enjoying the water.

"The Go With The Flow festival was so much fun last year and that has been what has inspired us to do this.

"We all had so much fun working together and got to know each other in the clubs and wanted to do it again, though this is more for the city clubs, rather than a countywide event."

"City Barge will have our gondolas on the water on the day and we will be offering free rides to people.

"There will also be a demonstration race by the Bangladeshi canoes, which I'm really looking forward to, as they're one of the newer boat clubs to join us down at Donnington Bridge."

Go With The Flow, which was part of the Oxfordshire 2007 celebrations, attracted more than 3,000 people.

Aziz-Ur Rahman, owner of the Aziz restaurant, in Cowley Road, flew the Bangladeshi canoes over from his homeland last year.

He said: "We're looking forward to getting the boats on the river and racing them. In Bangladesh nouk-baich, traditional boat racing, is the oldest sport in the country, so we're looking forward to showing people."

Mr Martin said: "We just want people to come down on the day and have some fun."