MINEHEAD'S annual raft race - one of the largest events of its kind in the country - celebrated its 30th anniversary in record-breaking style.

With 67 rafting teams taking part - the highest number in the history of the race - and the amount raised expected to eclipse the £12,000 brought in from last year's race, organisers have dubbed the bank holiday Sunday spectacle an outstanding success.

Race director Derek Williams praised the teams who took the gusty winds and challenging conditions of the Blue Anchor to Minehead course in their stride.

"This was undoubtedly our biggest and best yet and all the rafting teams really entered into the spirit of the day," he said.

The event is organised by the Minehead lifeboat crew to provide entertainment for local people and tourists and to raise much needed funds for the RNLI.

The 2009 event was held in association with the town's Butlins holiday centre and featured the now traditional and spectacular firework finale.

Organisers said thousands flocked to the seafront and harbour areas, delivering a welcome boost to the local economy.

During the day, visitors were treated to live bands, disco, a street performer, market stalls, face painting, bouncy castle and a barbecue, as well as a state-of-the-art lifeboat simulator giving an insight into the conditions RNLI volunteer crews face.

Out in the channel, Patricks Gulpers from Leominster - holders of the current course record - was the fastest raft home with a time of just over 35 minutes, while Eamon Sully's team won the fancy dress shield with its Helen's Angels entry.

In a real battle to the finish, race stalwarts, the two teams from the Valiant Solider pub in Roadwater, celebrated 20 years of taking part by winning both the pub challenge and Butlins Cup respectively.

The fastest women's team home was the Tring Rafters from Hertfordshire, while the Castaways from Hereford took the title of the first mixed raft home.

Other local successes included West Somerset Community College, who won the fun race, and Minehead Hire who picked up the Scuddy Memorial for the last raft home unaided.

Finally, the best dressed support boat was won by Paul Date on the Emma Louise.

And as darkness fell, organisers estimated that tens of thousands of people watched the free fireworks display, staged with the help of sponsorship from the local business community.

Mr Williams paid tribute to the many companies and organisations who supported the event.

"Such a day is only possible thanks to the generosity of our principle sponsor Butlins and the local business community who yet again dug deep buying advertising space in this year's programme," he said.

"Hopefully, we were able to put something back into the town with the large crowds on the day."

Mr Williams said Minehead and Watchet boat owners had also provided valuable rescue boat cover on the day.

However, lifeboat crews were not spared from their duties, with Minehead's Atlantic 85 boat called out to two separate incidents while the event was underway.

In the first, they took two seasick passengers off the Foxy Lady boat and were later called to the aid of a small fishing vessel with engine problems, which was towed back to the harbour.