FEW vicars can say they have performed a blessing service over a gathering of narrow boats.

And even fewer can say they carried out the service from a home-made pulpit floating on the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

But that's what Gargrave's new vicar Rev Rod Geddes managed to achieve on Sunday during the village's Celebration Sunday festivities.

The occasion had been organised by the Gargrave Business Initiative to celebrate the end of the major roadworks scheme along the main thoroughfare and the opening of the Sustrans Pennine Cycleway. Around 80 cyclists who travelled the inaugural route also received a blessing.

But while Mr Geddes managed to stay dry, two sporting guests were never intended to go back to Preston in the clothes they arrived in. Roy Wood and Rob Goulding from Lancashire Highways had agreed to be the volunteers on the ducking stool so villagers who had been affected by their roadwork plans recently could get their own back in a light-hearted way.

Mr Wood who was responsible for the £1 million project through Gargrave and Hellifield said he and Rob were delighted to be part of the celebrations.

"I was very pleased to have been invited to take part in the local village show and see it as a sign of the close working relationship that was formed," he said.

The event was to raise money for the village bonfire and fireworks display on November 1 and included an Antiques for All roadshow with more than 90 items brought forward for valuation, games, competitions, side shows and barbecues.

Elsewhere a giant snakes and ladders was considered a 'hit' with the players acting as the counters, and last year's wellie wanging winner, John Egan, was triumphant once again and vowed to go for the hat-trick next year.

Another success was the sugar lump stacking competitions which saw the winner achieve a double stack totalling 122 cubes.

"The day was a great success although, dare I say it, it was a little too hot," said GBI member Lynda Hartell-Payne of the Dalesman Caf.

"The treasure trail and nasturtium judging competition had to be postponed until this Sunday because it was too warm in the afternoon to expect people to walk around finding the clues to the treasure, let alone pick the nasturtium winner as well," she said.

Instead people are invited to come to Gargrave on Sunday and walk the trail - trail sheets at £1 available from Rayners newsagents - and judge the 40 nasturtium containers.

Thanks are extended to all who helped make the day a success and also to Mr and Mrs David Crawford for judging the fancy dress competitions.

The event is to be held a little earlier in the year next year and will be centered around the narrowboats which queued up for ages to be blessed.

The brave - or should that be foolhardy - vicar has suggested fitting an outboard motor to the floating pulpit next year so he could sail past the boats, rather than they having to manoeuvre around him.