ADVENTUROUS St Clare Hospice fundraiser Jo Brennan has been forced to abandon her canoe challenge after being faced with continuous head-on winds.

Mrs Brennan, who has retired as the hospice's general manager, had set herself the daunting target of canoeing the 87 miles along the Avon and Kennet Canal from Bath to Reading.

She set off in heavy rain on Friday, and on Saturday was faced with having to call on a friend to travel up from Dorset to help her carry her boat round the 22 locks at Devizes, in Wiltshire, which were undergoing refurbishment work.

She had hoped to catch a lift with a boat crew and help them with the winding work, but because the locks were out of action, she was forced to go it alone.

Sunday brought about a change in weather, and a long stretch of water without locks.

'It was bliss, all you got was the sounds of nature. It was beautiful.'

But after four days in the water, she reluctantly decided to call it a day. And speaking from Hungerford, in Berkshire, on Tuesday morning, she said: 'I was really struggling. A north-east breeze sprung up and it was coming straight at me. By the time I got to Hungerford I was shattered.

'The wind is lovely to walk in, but when you're in the canoe, it's gusting.'

She added: 'I feel shattered, but more disappointed because I can't battle against the breeze. The last five miles was horrendous. You're paddling just to stay put.'

Her efforts will still earn much-needed cash for the Hastingwood hospice, with sponsors backing her for the number of locks she passed en route.

She covered 67 miles and 62 locks. Had she managed to complete her challenge, she would have completed 83 locks and 87 miles.

Anyone who wants to make a contribution towards Mrs Brennan's fundraising can send money to the St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, Hastingwood, or ring 01279 413590.