BRITISH Waterways staff from Burnley and Pendle swapped their wellies and pens for canoes to paddle through the night in a marathon race.

Jim Swindell, of Foulridge, and Les Catling, who lives in Burnley, were second past the finishing line after completing the 127 mile journey from Leeds to Liverpool in thirty hours and 50 minutes.

Waterways supervisor Jim said: "We had a great team lined up for this marathon and although the going was tough we enjoyed the challenge and really felt we had achieved something when we came second."

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