Determined walker Michael Crawshaw braved downpours and survived an encounter with an angry swan to complete a 127-mile walk for charity.

When the 48-year-old from Queensbury arrived back, he went to the Shoulder of Mutton pub, Bradford, to enjoy a pint with friends.

Mr Crawshaw, whose dad died of cancer 25 years ago, walked the length of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal for Manorlands after visiting the Oxenhope hospice with friend John Farrell, 70, from Allerton, who has bowel cancer. Mr Crawshaw, who set out from Leeds at 7.40am on Sunday and reached Liverpool at 12.35pm yesterday, said: “The weather was dreadful and I had one or two encounters with wildlife.

“There was a swan on the towpath near Skipton that just wouldn’t let me past. Its young was in the water and every time I went near, it spread its wings and its wing span was so big.

“Fortunately a guy came the other way and I nipped round while it had its back turned.”