WALLINGFORD celebrated the importance of the Thames in the town on Saturday during the first Source to Sea River Relay.

A bottle of water drawn from the source of the Thames passed through Wallingford as it was carried 125 miles from the start of the river to the sea.

The festivity was part of the Mayor of London’s annual Thames Festival.

The celebrations usually stay within Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge but events were extended all along the river this year.

Retired solicitor Graham Hubbard – from Leamington Spa – took charge of the bottle rowing in his skiff from Benson Lock to Goring Lock.

At Wallingford Mr Hubbard met mayor of Wallingford Bernard Stone.

He said: “We had a great time. It was a nice bright sunny day. I took some friends and we had a lot of fun.”

The bottle is due to reach London’s Tower Bridge on Sunday afternoon, the final day of the Thames Festival.