TENSION is mounting for what looks likely to be a fiercely contested Monmouth Raft Race.

The favourites, Cardiff's Catch Us If You Can, have again entered the race but they will be up against stiff competition to lift the trophy again.

Entries from Bristol, Coleford, Cardiff, Caldicot, Cwmbran, Pontypool, Chepstow, Newport, Monmouth and even as far afield as Manchester, are all in the running.

One regular team that will be putting in a concerted effort again this time is Newport Severn Sands team while three teams from the Boots Supply Chain, in Bristol, have also entered the fray.

The youngest entrants, Chepstow's The Do Better Team, who used a borrowed raft last year, are making their own raft this time completely out of recycled materials, including part of a garden shed, after putting out a call for raft making resources.

Team member and Chepstow Comprehensive School A-level student Matt Barnes, 17, said: "The response to our call for help was very encouraging. We now have six enormous plastic barrels donated by a firm in Tredegar which had been filled with Evening Primrose oil, the end of an old garden shed, a pallet, some plywood and some ancient kayak paddles – all we have to now is work out how we fix it all together!"

Kris Broome of St David's Foundation, the main recipient this year of sponsorship funds, said: "The efforts businesses and their teams go to for the Monmouth Raft Race is quite simply awe inspiring."

Last year's event was the most successful on record with a mammoth £24,000 raised for charity and organisers are looking to do even better this time.

Organised by Monmouth Rotary Club, the six-and-a-half mile race on Sunday, September 4 starts at Monmouth Rowing Club at noon and ends at Tump Farm, Whitebrook.