THIS year’s Bradford Dragonboat Festival was officially unveiled at an event in City Park on Saturday.

Two of the dragonboats were on display in the city centre, and teams competing in this year’s event and the organising committee were also in attendance.

This year will be the fourth year the event, in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, has taken place at Roberts Park in Saltaire.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Doreen Lee said the event is “one of the times Bradford really shines”, and has raised more than £100,000 for charity.

She said: "This is the largest event of its type in the UK.

"It is the only youth dragonboat race, and since we started there have been 150 teams and 3,000 people take part, raising £100,000 for charity, and this year I am sure we will raise even more.

"There are only a couple of spots left on the Lord Mayor's Appeal race day and on the multi-charity race day.

"We have wonderful people who come from across the district in their tens of thousands to support the event, and it is one of the times Bradford really shines.

"Our festival is the envy of other parts of the country and we also celebrate our district's diversity, and welcome all people who want to get involved."

Councillor Joanne Dodds presided over the second Dragonboat Festival as Lord Mayor, and is now vice-chair of its organising committee.

She added: "The festival has grown and grown and is now the biggest festival of its kind in the UK.

"It is fantastic and I love being a part of it and seeing how it has grown to now include a youth day and a multi-charity day which really opens the event up to more people.

"I really have to praise the team and how hard they work, and I think this year will be another successful festival.

"It has been moved a bit further back in the year which will make it easier for schools to take part, and hopefully will mean we have better weather too."