WATERWAYS enthusiast Colin Ogden has achieved his dream of towing the first boat along the Lancaster Canal and into Kendal for around 70 years.

The Burnley heating engineer told the Gazette: "Well, we did it, and what a success.We managed to get Whimbrel to the very last bridge on the canal in Kendal."

The trailer-mounted vintage craft was towed by 4x4 from Bridgehouse Marina, Garstang, and accompanied by Morecambe photographer Laurraine Smith, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

Mr Ogden heads up the 500-strong Owd Lanky Boaters Group on Facebook. He is trying to raise awareness of hopes to restore the Lancaster Canal's Northern Reaches.

Frank Sanderson, of the Friends of Lancaster Canal, described the towboat adventure as a 'spectacular event'.