IT wasn't quite the start people were expecting.

Hundreds of spectators lined the quayside at Poole, for the annual bathtub race, standing by for at least an hour as boats were tugged back to the start line.

But it certainly made for a good preview of the contestants taking part, as they and bits of their makeshift 'boats' floated past after they'd been battered by the large waves.

Sea-goers donned standard wetsuits as well as wigs and brightly coloured t-shirts as they tried desperately to line up their boats for the start, fighting the tide.

There were even some Ghostbusters and a group of grannies who soon lost interest in the race and pelted one another with eggs and flour.

They scrambled their way along as dedicated crew from the RNLI went back and forth pulling tubs and their owners along.

For others it was more about staying afloat than trying to beat their counterparts as they used buckets, hands and even air pumps to remove water from their boats.

See all of our pictures from yesterday's bathtub race 

Some had abandoned ship before the race began choosing instead just to have a dip along with a can of lager.

Poole High School chums Joe Bartlett, Callum McKenzie, both 21, and Rob Gibbs, 20, had a good day but didn't quite manage to finish the race.

"Our bath didn't last the longest," Joe said. "I think it's still in the quay!

"We managed to get onto someone else's and then commandeered their bath. Then we chucked them off."

The three friends took with them at least three dozen eggs for the event, and received a severe pelting themselves.

"I was still picking it out of my hair in the evening," added Joe.

"We were a bit keen and got in the water too soon - about half an hour before it started."

Around a dozen boats took part in all - one of which had approximately 20 people aboard - before the contestants headed to the Blue Boar pub to continue the new year celebrations.