Ducks will invade town

A GIANT Duck Art Trail, similar to the highly successful Norwich Elephant Trail, will go ahead in Beccles this summer after local people went quackers for the idea.

Giant fibreglass ducks decorated by local artists will be placed around the town in August and September as a build up to the Duck Race at Beccles Quay on Sunday, October 4.

The art trail is the brainchild of the Duck Race committee, who based the idea on the hugely popular Go Elephants art trail in Norwich last summer.

Liz Goldspink, deputy chairman of the committee, said that they were thrilled by the response from businesses, schools and artists, with 12 ducks already in construction. However the committee are still keen for more organisations to get involved and sponsor a duck.

The ducks, which will be about a metre high, are being sculpted out of fibreglass by 3D Creations of Gorleston, and the first should be ready to be decorated this weekend.

They will be moved down to Beccles Quay on the day of the Duck Race.

The new Farrier caf� in Old Market will have a duck outside their shop, decorated by Henstead artist Annie Rice who won Best in Show at the Suffolk Open Studios showcase exhibition this month.

Meanwhile Michelle Payne, the award-winning artist and life-caster who runs the Upstairs Gallery in Beccles, will be decorating a duck, sponsored by Quayside Conservatories in Beccles.

There has even been interest from companies outside of Beccles, with the Norwich branches of Virgin and Britvic Tango also sponsoring ducks.

The furthest duck outside of Beccles will be at the Waveney River Centre in Burgh St Peter, which duck-trailers will have to access by cycling.

“There's been a lot of interest and lot of excitement,” said Mrs Goldspink. “Hopefully it will bring people into Beccles who wouldn't normally come here- I think it's really going to benefit all of the shops and businesses in Beccles.”

If you would like to sponsor or decorate a duck for the Giant Duck Art Trail, telephone Liz on 07743132940.