A DRAGON Boat festival held earlier this year raised a massive £43,000 for charity, it has been revealed.

The colourful event was held in Roberts Park, Saltaire, in May and saw 45 teams battle it out on the water.

It was a fundraiser for last year's Lord Mayor's Appeal, which was being split equally between Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity and the Spread a Smile Appeal devised by Councillor Joanne Dodds during her year as Lord Mayor of Bradford.

Cllr Dodds said: "It’s an amazing amount of money and will go a long way to help my chosen charities.

"I can’t thank the organisers of the festival enough for getting people together to raise this phenomenal amount of money.

"The teams from the council really got behind the festival and raised almost a third of the money.

"I would like to thank all those who took part and helped to raise this wonderful amount of money."

Beccy Bardgett, chairman of Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity, said: "This is a fantastic amount of money and we are so grateful to Cllr Joanne Dodds for choosing us as her charity and to those who organised and took part in the Dragon Boat Festival.”

The team to raise the most money was a Bradford Council team based at Margaret McMillan Tower called Maggie's Slayers, who raised £3,500 and were rewarded with a meal donated by Jinnah Restaurant.

Chantelle Etienne, a team member from The Black Dragons, was the individual who raised the most.

She raised £290 and was rewarded with a meal donated by My Lahore.