St Neots has been selected to host of the 2018 national Festival of Water, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the town.

The Inland Waterways Association, a national charity working to protect and restore canals and rivers, has just announced that it will be bringing its annual IWA Festival of Water to Regatta Meadow over the August bank holiday.

The event, which will run from August 25-27, is being supported by Huntingdonshire District Council and St Neots Town Council.

Councillor Richard West, chairman of Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “This is fantastic news for St Neots and our district. What a great celebration the IWA Festival of Water will be for our beautiful river, and we look forward to the festivities that will attract thousands of people to this unique event.”

Councillor Derek Giles, mayor of St Neots, added: “Riverside Park is the perfect location for a waterside festival and we have some fantastic ideas that we are working on with The Inland Waterways Association to make this event one to remember for both residents and visitors.”

The festival is described as a free day out for all the family with many boats, including leisure, trade, heritage and working narrow boats, which will collect on the River Great Ouse next to the meadow.

They will be accompanied by a wide range of craft stalls, music, entertainment and activities for children. There will also be a market and fund raising stalls.