Excitement is mounting with the Gloucester Dragon Boat Festival just two days away.

The charity event at Gloucester Docks kicks off around 10.30am on Sunday, May 12, with races starting beneath the swing bridge on Llanthony Road and finishing near "Greek at the Docks" at Merchants Quay.

The Dragon Boat Festival is once again being organised by the Rotary Club of Gloucester Severn, and is set to see teams racing across a course of approximately 300 metres.

There will be 18 rounds of heats that build to the semi-finals and final later in the day at approximately 4pm.

The races involved teams of up to 10 rowers sitting side-by-side in a 30-foot long canoe, with a helm to steer and a drummer sitting up high in front, beating out the rhythm. The boats are fitted with a colourful dragon's head.

Nick Bishop, one of the organisers for the Rotary Club, said: "All funds raised during the event will go towards charities that our Rotary Club support, but our main beneficiary from the festival is our headline charity Young Gloucestershire.

"By working and supporting YG we want to aid the staff, youth workers, trainers and advisers to do what they can to ensure that the young people in our community get the most out of the opportunities that come their way.

"We can't get events like this up and running without the help of our main sponsor. Once again GR Lanes Healthcare have continued to support the event and we are very grateful. We are also grateful to those teams that have signed up this year and will make the day an enjoyable one."