She might not be walking on water but Beccles mayor Caroline Topping will be doing the next best thing as she gets set to ride a water bicycle this weekend.

Mrs Topping will be riding the bicycle along the River Waveney from Beccles Lido to the Waveney House Hotel and back again on Sunday from midday.

The event is a promotion for next year’s Beccles Charter Weekend, which will take place on July 4 and 5, when, amongst other events, a river cavalcade will be taking place to celebrate Beccles’ rich river-related heritage as well use of the River Waveney in and around the town today.

Mrs Topping will be accompanied on her ride by the Beccles Rescue Launch, a boat owned by a member of the River Waveney Trust and the Waveney Stardust, which provides river trips for the disabled and elderly.

She has chosen to ride a more modern water bicycle, known as a surf bike, and will be set off by Waveney MP Peter Aldous.

Meanwhile, the Beccles open gardens and spaces event will be running tomorrow with around 20 gardens open to the public across Beccles and Worlingham.

Passports to the gardens will be on sale at Beccles and District Museum between 11am and 5pm, with proceeds going to local charities. The gardens will offer a diverse selection with a variety of locations, planting schemes and imaginative use of space.

A garden close to the museum will be offering refreshments and the museum will be open with a First World War exhibition and a display of the preliminary plans for the proposed Beccles 100th anniversary war memorial.

Passport holders will also be able to view gardens which run down to the River Waveney from the classic motor boat BetsieJane (subject to capacity), assisted by members of the Beccles Group of the River Waveney Trust Association. And for those with no access to transport or who have difficulty walking, help will be available from the museum courtesy of the Beccles and Bungay Area Community Transport. A fancy dress and golden stamp competition will also be running for youngsters. For more information visit www.opengardens.co.uk and search Beccles. Anyone wishing to watch the water ride can do so from the Lido or the Waveney House Hotel.