THIS year's Glasgow River Festival has been hailed the best yet by organisers with thousands more thrill-seekers flocking to the event.

Around 90,000 spectators enjoyed a host of action-packed aquatic events on the Clyde, topping last year's total of 87,000.

This year's show included a number of new attractions including a live pirate show complete with firing cannons, muskets and sword-fighting.

Visitors were also treated to jet ski demonstrations by four-time world freestyle jet ski champion Lee Stone and zapcat rides.

Other highlights included powerboat rides, an appearance by Navy mine hunter warship HMS Blyth, and cruises down the Clyde on the Waverley, the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer.

Now in its sixth year, the event has become a popular fixture on the city's cultural calendar, based in and around the Glasgow Harbour, the SECC and the Glasgow Science Centre.

The fun was no less exciting on dry land with local bands playing throughout Saturday and Sunday and live science experiments from the BBC's Bang Goes the Theory roadshow.

The weekend's action climaxed with the annual Duck Race, one of the event's most popular attractions. Thousands gathered to watch 20,000 plastic ducks sail down the Clyde in aid of cancer charity Marie Curie.

This year's race was organised to raise cash for the Big Build appeal, backed by the Evening Times, which aims to raise £16million for a new hospice in Glasgow.

Glasgow's Lord Provost, Bob Winter said: "The River Clyde has been - and continues to be - an important feature of Glasgow life and the Glasgow River Festival has once again proved a great way to celebrate its heritage. I'm delighted so many people turned up at the weekend."

The Summer Festival fortnight will be rounded off in the city with next weekend's Glasgow Show.