Canoeists dressed in Santa outfits hungrily paddled the four mile course of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race for their Christmas dinner.

Members of the Putney Bridge Canoe Club set out on the Thames from Barn Elms on Sunday, November 27, to row up to the Ship pub in Mortlake for a three-course festive meal.

Chairman of the club, Geoffrey Onyett, organised the event several months ago, planning it to coincide with the tides.

He said: "We needed an incoming tide to help us reach The Ship by 1pm for the Christmas dinner and an out going tide for the return journey after dark.

"The Ship is a good location, distance wise, from the club's base at Barn Elms for a kayaking trip suitable for all abilities.

"It has very good food at a good price, professional staff, no body was given the wrong dinner and everyone enjoyed it."

The 25 members who rowed along the Thames rowed off their meal on their way back to the club.