THE summer regatta is rowing its way to Gravesend this weekend.

Beginning on Saturday at 10am, town centre pubs will put down their pints and pick up their oars for the annual rowing competition.

Drinkers and staff from the pubs will be clambering aboard their rowing boats for the races.

On Sunday at 10am the Men’s Lower Thames Challenge will get underway.

At 2pm there will be the junior regatta, which is designed for youngsters aged between 10 and 18.

Sue Beecham, secretary of The Gravesend Regatta Committee, said: “We’re hoping the weather will be kind to us and not too hot. Mostly we hope the wind will not be too bad, but it will be going ahead no matter what.”

For those not brave enough to take to the water there will be a funfair, charity stalls, singers, dancers, a circus workshop, bouncy castle, costumed characters, all back on dry land.

And Gravesend lifeboat crews will be delighting onlookers with a water display.