'I'm quackers for paddling 35 miles on a duck'

"I've seen people on paddleboards and kayaks but never on a giant, inflatable, yellow duck."

Liam Birkett explains why he plans to paddle a giant inflatable rubber duck from Preston to Kendal along the Lancaster Canal - using only his hands.

He said people had told him he was "quackers" for taking on the 35-mile (56km) challenge, for which he has done "absolutely no training", in July.

"Some people think I'm mental, but if you know me it's the sort of thing I do," he said. "I don't do things by halves."

"Go big or go home," he added.

Liam conceded it would be "difficult, but worth it" to raise money for charity Healthier Heroes, which supports veterans and their families.

He said he thought it would take him about a week, and he had recently bought some duck-themed pyjamas for the camping along the way.

He said he would face the journey with "a hope and a prayer", adding: "I think if I trained for it I might chicken out."

He has named his inflatable - which is about 3ft x 4ft (1m x 1.2m) - Ducky McDuckface and decided to take to the water "because I don't think I've seen anybody do it before".

Liam said he would have to walk five miles of the route as the canal no longer went all the way to Kendal.

And if he gets a puncture?

"Don't worry, I've got plenty of duct - or duck - tape," he joked.

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