Local folk revelled in getting wet for a charitable cause as 200 took part in a thrilling water splash ride down the Slipway Slide, set up in Darley Street in the city centre yesterday.

The 100 metre-long bright orange inflatable chute took competitors down the hill before splashing to a stop in a foam filled bath.

Those having a go were warned they would get soaking wet but nobody seemed to mind and the sun shone brightly to dry them out.

The slide has been created for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to raise awareness of the charity's lifesaving work.

Lucky winners were drawn from a text ballot to take part in the Bradford event, and families, children and couples lined up down the sides of the chute to offer their encouragement to the participants, who wore goggles and descended head-first on their tummies on an orange lilo.

Mother-of-two Sharon Collins, 40, of Thornton, said: "I enjoyed that, but I would liked to have gone faster. I don't think I'll have another go - the water's a bit cold!"

Painter and decorator Jamie Emsley, 29, of Wyke, took to the slide on four occasions. He said: "It's an adrenaline rush. My five-year-old son thinks it's hilarious that Dad has got so wet."

Tim Donohue, 35, took in the slide as part of a weekend wedding anniversary celebration. "When I saw how many people were watching, I got cold feet. But Sarah persuaded me to go ahead with it."