The bathroom toys - 8,216 in total - floated down the huge water feature in Sunday's event to help raise money for Grace House North East Children's Hospice appeal.

Around £22,000 was bagged for the cause, with 16 Sainsbury's stores across the North East selling the yellow figures, all individually named.

The Duck of Northumberland, David Peckham and Martin Luther Wing were just a few of those to lock horns in 16 races down the cascade.

Fittingly, The Duckess of Northumberland won the second Alnwick race, to book a place in the Grand Final.

But it was Duck Surprise, from the Guisborough and Ripon combined race, who was crowned cascade king, beating off competition from the other quacky racers in the Grand Final. Mr Pender, from Newcastle, bagged himself £500 worth of Sainsbury's vouchers as a result.

There was also an Olympic Race to tie in with the Olympic handover, with companies sponsoring ducks representing the Olympic countries. That was won by Donald Gilbert, a butcher in Gosforth, with his entry from Cameroon.

Patron of the charity Kathy Secker, said: "I am absolutely delighted with the whole event. The day has been fantastic and everybody has enjoyed themselves.

"And, not only has the event raised a fantastic amount of money – which is a huge contribution to our cause – but it has raised awareness of the charity throughout the region.

"Sainsbury's have been fantastic and a big thank-you to everybody involved."

The Grace House North East Children's Hospice Appeal is raising funds to build, equip and run an eight-bed children's hospice for children across the North East.

More than 1,200 families in our region require hospice care and Grace House will provide a home from home, loving environment where children and their families may turn to for support.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS
OLYMPIC RACE - Donald Gilbert (Butcher in Gosforth)

RACE 1 (Alnwick Sainsbury's store); winning number 430; duck name Jennifer Saunduck; winner Roger Thompson

RACE 2 (Cramlington); winning number 181; duck name Pondtrooper; winner Kelly Angus

RACE 3 (Darlington); winning number 315; duck name Can You Reed; winner Lisa Davies

RACE 4 (Durham); winning number 276; duck name Daisy Duck; winner Rosemary Biddlecombe

RACE 5 (Gosforth); winning number 372; duck name Catherine Duckson; winner Catherine Cassidy

RACE 7 (Heaton); winning number 500; duck name Martin Luther Wing; winner Gillian from Sainsbury's

RACE 8 (Middlesbrough); winning number 230; duck name Showwaddywaddle; winner Len Bramley

RACE 9 (Northallerton); winning number 397; duck name Kenducky Fried Chicken; winner Mrs Gummer

RACE 10 (Northumberland Park); winning number 19; duck name Duck Surprise; winner Kim Watson

RACE 12 (Alnwick 'B'); winning number 190; duck name Duckess of Northumberland; winner Kimberly Smith Northumberland

RACE 13 (Sunderland); winning number 258; duck name Teals on my Pillow; winner Diana (Grocery) Sunderland Store

RACE 14 (Team Valley); winning number 19; duck name Duck Surprise; winner Team Valley store

RACE 15 (Washington); winning number 62; duck name Duck Rogers; winner Kev Clarke

RACE 16 (Whitehouse Farm); winning number 46; duck name Twin Beaks; winner Mrs Karen Mchale

RACE 17 (Whitley Bay); winning number 372; duck name Catherine Duckson; winner Beth Mills

RACES 6+11 (Guisborough and Ripon combined); winning number 19; duck name Duck Surprise; winner Mr Pender

GRAND FINAL WINNER: Guisborough and Ripon combined race. Mr Pender won £500 of Sainsbury's vouchers.