A canoeing couple who paddled 24 miles along the River Stour with their dog are to be presented with an award.

Roger and Susan Brown, of Langham Road, Boxted, bought their Canadian canoe last spring but never envisaged travelling so far in it.

The pair, who have both retired, run the electric boat from Sudbury for the River Stour Trust.

"You can only go two miles in that before you hit a weir and have to turn back," said Mr Brown, 56.

"But with a canoe you can just pick it up, go round obstacles and get back in the water."

However, talking his wife round to the idea was not easy.

He said: "I eventually managed to persuade her through constant nagging."

After buying the canoe they soon realised their 14-year-old Jack Russell terrier Heidi enjoyed canoeing as much as they did.

So when they took part in the two-day Length of the River Cruise from Sudbury to Brantham last September, Heidi naturally joined the crew.

"We never imagined we'd go that sort of distance," said Mr Brown.

Delighted with the award from the River Stour Trust, Mr Brown said: "Completing the 24 miles was a real achievement."

Intrepid - the paddlers in mid-stream

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