THE first major Severn bores of the year are forecast this weekend.

A full moon on Friday will guarantee excellent spring tides and bores are predicted from Friday through to Monday.

Enthusiastic surfers have already tested their prowess on smaller tides in January but a larger number of riders are expected to test their skills this weekend.

Among them will be world record holder Steve King. His amazing ride of 9.25 miles was completed in 2006 but has only recently been accepted by The Guinness Book of Records.

"The ride had to be ratified by the Surfers' Association and because of a change of officers it took some time. Obviously I'm very pleased, especially as it means the record is now back on the Severn," said Steve, who lives at Saul, near Frampton-on-Severn.

The ride of his life included 7.6 miles standing and began at Collow, near Newnham, ending at The Bend of the Noards upstream of Bollow.

"There's always an element of luck. That day the sands were right, there was low pressure and a bit of a South-Westerly so conditions were perfect," he says.

Steve intends to ride the daylight tides on all four days this weekend. He is using a new board in preparation for a trip to the Amazon in two weeks time where he has been invited to surf the legendary bore said to be even bigger than the Severn.

He says the signs are good for decent bores on all four days.

"Some of the recent rain should help improve water levels and if the wind stays in the South West I'm hoping for some pretty good runs," he said.

Friday: Newnham 0651(9.2) and 1918(9.3); Saturday: 0735(9.8) and 2000 (9.8); Sunday 0816 (10.1) ands 2041(9.9); Monday: 0856 (10.1) and 2118 (9.7)

An hour should be added on for Minsterworth.

Remember to arrive in plenty of time, park sensibly and stand a safe distance from the water.