A FORECAST for some of the best bores of the year this weekend is expected to bring hundreds of watchers to Severnside.

The popular hotspots will be Newnham and Minsterworth.

The March tides are among the best being forecast in a year which will throw up fewer than usual opportunities. The biggest tides are forecast for the Easter weekend.

"It's early but there may well be a few surfers prepared to take on the challenge," said bore rider Stuart Ballard.

The first of a set of nine metre and over tides is on Thursday morning and they run through to next Monday. The biggest tides are Saturday and Sunday morning.

The following forecasts are for Newnham. Add on an hour for Minsterworth.

Thursday: 0651 and 1916; Friday: 0732 and 1956; Saturday: 0811 and 2033; Sunday 0850 and 2110; Monday: 0928.