A gruelling barge rowing race between Westminster and Greenwich will be on the Thames later this month.

The 41st Thames Barge Driving Race between the Palace of Greenwich and the Palace of Westminster

The races will use 20 foot oars to row using the strong tides to steer their massive 30 tonne barges down the Thames.

The crews, all from the Freemen and Apprentices of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, have to collect at least one pennant flag from a moored barge along the course.

The movement of cargo by this method was used until the closure of the London Docks in the 1970s.

The 7-mile race kicks off in Greenwich at 1.30pm on Saturday, July 15.