Surfers flocked to Gloucestershire on Tuesday morning for the first five-star Severn Bore since March 2019.
The huge tidal wave, which pushed up from the River Severn Estuary into Gloucester, attracted people from all over the UK.
Fans were keen to get a glimpse of the natural phenomenon which is caused by the tide from the Atlantic Ocean into the Bristol Channel.
But people also took the opportunity to get out their surfboards, kayaks and paddleboards to ride the waves which were expected to reach a height of 10.3 metres.
Surfers were keen to take advantage of the first five-star Severn Bore in five years
PA
The scale of the Severn Bore is graded between five and one, depending on the size.
Factors such as wind speed and direction at the time of the high tide determine how big it gets.
One and two-star bores are frequent, while four-stars also happen occasionally.
But a five-star bore is a rare event that hasn't happened on the Severn in five years.
Hundreds of people turned out at different points on the Severn to capture the moment.
It will be the only five-star bore in 2024 and many were desperate not to miss the occasion.
People camped overnight so they would ensure a good spot in the morning.
The busiest spots to watch the Severn Bore are where the waves pass Newnham and Broadoak, as the wave strengthens and picks up pace.
And it wasn't long before surfers and kayakers were taking to the water.
One surfer, Lloyd Russell, travelled all the way from Cornwall to take part.
He told the BBC's Today Programme: "It's muddy, it's dirty, it's not glamorous.
"Everything smells. A little bit of poo and muddy rivers. You get out of the river and you're absolutely caked in mud. It's quite fun really. Sliding down the river banks."
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Surfers got up in the early hours of the morning to hit the waters on the River Severn
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Another surfer, Steve Potter, explained how a five-star bore lures people to the area.
He told the BBC: "Since 2010 I’ve really got into it - going along the river and talking to locals, finding places to surf.
"Depending on the conditions, you can get a seven-minute ride for a mile. A five-star wave brings the whole circus to town."
One surfer was wary of how busy it would be on the same wave.
Steve King said: "It's a good community, it will be great. Unlike the ocean, it’s just one wave.
A five-star bore is a rare event on the River Severn
PA
"So you've got to get on the same one. We’re all trying to catch the same wave, so 30 or 40 people will on the same wave."
Rachel, a local pub manager, explained the 'special' nature of the occasion.
She told the BBC: "It's amazing. We had one lady last night at the pub, 83 years old, she came here only to see it.
"It is really special for some people."
