Coracle regatta opens World Heritage Festival

Coracles date back to pre-Roman times and were designed to be carried on a person's back

The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival is due to get under way, with open days, coracle races and an arts trail among other events planned.

Running until 20 September, the annual event celebrates the history and culture of the area.

The festival starts on Monday with a coracle regatta and duck races.

Ironbridge Gorge is a Unesco World Heritage site, due to its role in the birth of the Industrial Revolution.

Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for leisure, tourism, culture and the arts, praised the "fantastic programme" and said organisers were looking forward to welcoming visitors.

The festival includes an art exhibition, open studios and a poetry competition.

Heritage Open Days are also planned for 7 and 8 September at Coalbrookdale with Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

It means there will be free access to the Museum of Iron, Enginuity, the Darby Houses, the Coalbrookdale Gallery and the Old Furnace, as well as talks and demonstrations.

On 14 September, the Wharfage in Ironbridge will host displays of traditional skills, stalls, and street entertainment.