Youngsters are being invited to make edible boats to sail across a lake at Portishead Raft Race.

Organisers of the race, due to take place on Sunday July 12 at the town's Lake Grounds, have launched the new category to attract younger entrants to take part in the annual mad dash across the water.

Youngsters will be asked to make small boats out of food and sail them across the water.

Prizes will be given to the most inventive and the boat which stays afloat the longest or reaches the finishing post first.

Members of Portishead Raft Race committee came up with the new category after hearing about a similar competition which is held as part of raft and boat races in Scotland.

Race committee spokesman Mark Gardner said: "We thought the edible boat race would be a fun way for younger children to get involved.

"They can make the boats out of anything they like, just as long as it's edible."

The race, which was previously organised by the Portishead Lifeboat Trust, has been put on hold for the past couple of years because of a lack of volunteers to organise it.

The event was one of the biggest fundraisers for the trust, which runs the town's voluntary lifeboat service out of Sugar Loaf Bay.

The event was revived earlier this year by a team of volunteers, who set up the raft race committee.

Money raised at the event will be split between the lifeboat trust and other local charities.

This year's race has already attracted lots of interest, with 30 different groups and individuals asking for entry forms.

This year the event will be a family fun day, with people being invited to bring a picnic to enjoy while they watch teams dash around the water.

Each team will be asked to pay an entry fee and raise sponsorship money, all of which will go to the charitable causes.

www.portisheadraftrace.co.uk – a dedicated event website – has also been set up for people to register their entry and find out more information about the event.

The website will also have sections on how to build a raft and details of all the teams who have entered.

Entry forms are also available at a number of shops in the town.