A KAYAKER is paddling through Kent this week on a 4,500km journey round the UK raising money for charity.

Noel Webb dropped into Margate on Wednesday several days into his epic journey, which began at Felixstowe. A good sleep at The Bear bed and breakfast, who gave him a room for free, and he took off again, this time heading round the Foreness past Ramsgate and Dover to Folkestone.

The 24-year-old is aiming to raise £10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and has already made it £4,000 towards his target.

He said: "I had an 18-year-old cousin Claire who died from CF in 2000 and that spurred me on to do this.

"I’ve got a tent in the front and back of the kayak for the evenings but some places have been really nice and let me stay for free.

"There are days I would rather be anywhere else but every day there is a moment when it is really brilliant. It’s also about the people you meet and I have had great support - particularly from pubs!"

Worcester man Noel has been kayaking since he was 13 and trained for this expedition paddling up and down the Severn.

His £1,500 kayak was donated to the cause and is of a type popular with eskimos - something giving Noel confidence it will stand up to the challenges to come.

"Dungeness is a bit gnarly and I will have to make sure I catch the tide," he said.

"Crossing the Thames was was the most interesting and hard work - I had a head wind all the way and had to keep out of the way of the big ships."