A YOUNG company director who became fed up of life in the fast lane has given up his land legs in favour of a canal boat.

Daniel Donnelly, 27, originally set up home in a traditional house in Richmond Avenue, Haslingden, when he was 19.

But when he failed to shrug off the feeling that something was lacking in life he took to the water.

Now he spends his time floating between his brother's house in Manchester and his dad's in Preston - although it takes him two days to get there.

Daniel earns £26,000 a year as a company director of the family business, Colorblind, a window blind manufacturer in Farrington Court, Burnley.

He said: "I was sick of having to travel to my father's in Preston and my brother's in Manchester all the time and I couldn't find a house to suit me.

"For no reason at all I decided to have a look at some canal boats. I found one at a dealer's in Yorkshire and fell in love with it."

But Daniel has no ordinary boat.

His new home cost over £50,000 and has all mod cons, including a washer, tumble-dryer, dish-washer and colour television, as well as a full-size bath and shower.

He said: "I plan to live on the barge for the foreseeable future, so the way I see it I should make the most of where I plan to live.

"It is not something like you would see on Rosie and Jim with paintings and plants all over the place. It is very modern looking with all the latest technology inside.

"I have a bedroom with a king-size bed as well as a full leather sofa in the living room so when I go below deck it is just like a proper home but without all the hassles of nuisance neighbours and other irritations you get when you live in a street full of people."

Narrow boat owners do not need a driving licence, and there are other benefits - Daniel said: "As I am cruising along I can stop off at a pub and have a drink."

Daniel's passion for water was another reason he decided to make the leap - he was a competitive swimmer throughout his school years.

Daniel's top five benefits of living on land:

Having a constant supply of electric is good

Water is always readily available in a house, I have 150 gallons to last me a week, if I leave the tap running then I am in trouble

Having the same neighbours to talk to

Having a permanent postal address to give people

Not having to worry about leaking floors!

Daniel's top five benefits of living on water:

The wild life is incredible, just this morning I opened my hatch to see two ducklings swim past

The peace and quiet

You can have a drink without having to worry about driving home

You can live anywhere in the country if you feel like living in Burnley one day and London the next week then you can

Meeting new people