ROUND the world yachtsman Neil Eatough is expected to land in England in the early hours of Thursday.

Mr Eatough, managing director of family firm Dexter Paints, Burnley, spent 10 years becoming a skilled yachtsman before he was accepted aboard the Commercial Union yacht Assurance for the BT Global Challenge.

He set sail from Southampton last September along with 13 other yachts attempting to sail the "wrong" way round the world.

The first leg was to Rio De Janerio, then Wellington, Capetown, Boston and the final leg back to Southampton.

Mr Eatough's yacht is currently in fifth position but the Save The Children vessel skippered by Andrew Hindley of Accrington is only a little way in front, so all could change before Southampton.

Before he began the race, Mr Eatough completed six months' training for the journey.

At the time he said: "It will be a remarkable experience and the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition."

BBC2 has followed the voyage with a series of documentary programmes. The last two will show the transatlantic leg back home and, later in the year, a review of the highs and lows of the challenge.

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