CANOEING enthusiast John Taylor is planning to head for the hills for his latest charity challenge.

John, of No Place, near Stanley, aims to sail his Canadian canoe in a lake 2,365 ft above sea level.

The former landlord of the Beamish Mary Inn at No Place will lead a team of six paddling the craft in Red Tarn on Hellvellyn in the Lake District next weekend.

"It's my latest challenge and it's called the Hell Fell Liquor Challenge, and it's sailing with altitude," he said. "We are raising money for breast cancer research.

"As far as we know, nobody has taken a canoe up there and nobody has sailed a boat that high up. We think it could be an unofficial English record.

"We'll start from Glenridding and we'll drag the canoe up Hellvellyn - it will weigh about a hundredweight with all the sailing gear.

"We are going to get a firkin - a nine-gallon barrel - and fill it with water. In the brewing trade the water used is very important and is known as liquor.

"We'll get it down Hellvellyn and cross Ullswater and go over the top of the fell to Lowther Castle, towing the canoe on a trailer by bike.''

The team will then cycle back to No Place and hand the firkin to the Darwen real ale brewery which will produce a special brew.

John hopes to complete his latest adventure within 48 hours, starting on Friday, August 18.